Sun: 'Something to prove'

Photo: Okanagan Sun

The Okanagan Sun unveil their new colours.

The Okanagan Sun have something to prove - to themselves.

The Sun will get that chance Saturday night, when they kick off the 2017 BC Football Conference season at the Apple Bowl, against the team that ended their season a year ago - the Westshore Rebels.

The Rebel built up a 25-0 lead en route to a 32-21 thumping of the Sun in last season's BCFC title game on the island.

Head coach Ben Macauley, entering his second season patrolling the sidelines, says there is a sense of 'unfinished business,' heading into Saturday's season opener.

But, Macauley also says a game against the reigning league champions this early in the season is a good way to see where they're at, where they're strong and where they;re weak.

"Until we get that cup back in our locker room, we play as the underdog. We get to go into this game and feel like we have something to prove to ourselves,"said Macauley.

"Do we belong in the upper echelon of the league and the country. Why not start right off the bat figuring our where we stand."

Macauley says there are a lot of players in the locker room who don;t want to be the best team in Kelowna or the best team in B.C., but the best team in the country.

They have a chance to show that Saturday.

The Sun also hope to solve their Achilles heel from a year ago, an offence that, at its best, was inconsistent.

Unlike a year ago when it was never clear which of the two quarterbacks would start in any given week, this year's team is Keith Zyla's.

Zyla split the chores with Foster Martens last season, completing nearly half his passes for 665 yards and six touchdowns.

Macauley says his second year pivot has exceeded his expectations through off season training and training camp.

"We initially wanted to keep things simple, but he's pushed and pushed, and the playbook has grown. We're probably more efficient now than we were a mid-season last year.

"We've had Keith here a few months working with a core group of receivers and our offensive line is working really hard."

Macauley said the offence is working against the best defence in the country each and every day at practice, and believes they are further ahead now than they were a year ago.

"Last year we would struggle even in practice with mental errors and questions at quarterback."

The Sun and Rebels kick off the season Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Apple Bowl.

The Sun will also unveil their new uniforms and new colour scheme Saturday.