Sun blown out, never in season finale

The game meant nothing to the Okanagan Sun and they played like it.

Photo: Wayne Moore - Castanet

Sun quarterback Austin Komonoski is taken off the field on a stretcher after a violent hit late in the first half Saturday

Their effort, or lack of not only cost them a football game but possibly the services of their back-up quarterback.

The Sun played likely the worst half of football in the 32 year history of the team and arguably their worst game in a 48-6 thumping at the hands of the visiting Langley Rams Saturday afternoon at the Apple Bowl.

The game leaves the Sun with a dismal 3-7 record and a date next Saturday with the regular season champion Vancouver Island Raiders in the BCFC semi-finals.

During a disastrous, unemotional opening half, the Sun managed just two net yards of total offence and did not register a first down.

Even worse, was the loss of back-up quarterback Austin Komonosky who took a violent hit from Rams defensive back Nick Felicella.

Komonoski came into the game late in the opening half for an ineffective Cam Bedore.

On his second play from scrimmage, Komonoski dropped back to pass, turned to his right and was drilled by Felicella who was blitzing from the left edge.

Photo: Wayne Moore - Castanet

The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport was at the Apple Bowl to conduct random drug tests following Saturday's game

The hit left Komonoski on the field motionless for several minutes before the officials decided to send the teams to their locker rooms and wipe out the last 3:01 of the second quarter with the Rams leading 38-0.

Komonoski remained on the field for about 30 minutes before he was removed from the field on a stretcher and taken to Kelowna General Hospital.

Sun head coach Gavin Lake says he didn't think Komonoski's injury was serious.

"I don't know, at least he was smiling and hopefully it's just a whiplash situation, maybe a little bit of a contusion on the chin," said Lake after the game.

"Definitely a bit of film that I'll send to the league. Apparently there wasn't a flag on the play. I don't know how that happened."

Lake says he saw the top of Felicella's helmet go underneath Komonoski's chin.

"I'll look at it on film and we'll see from there."

Later Saturday evening it was reported Komonoski had x-rays and was released from hospital.

As for the game, it was over early.

Fullback Kris Stevens fumbled on the opening play, giving the Rams the ball at the Sun 48. The Rams would manage just a field goal to take a 3-0 lead.

On the next possession, the same play was called and Stevens again fumbled, however, the Sun retained the ball because a whistle had gone prior to the completion of the play. They got a fresh first down but were unable to move the ball.

On their next possession, the Sun gave up a safety rather than punt from their own end to keep the ball away from the dangerous Nick Downey.

It was for naught because Downey returned the ensuring kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown.

Two minutes later quarterback Greg Bowcott hooked up with Malcolm Williams on a 27-yard strike and the rout was on.

After two more conceded safties made it 23-0 early in the second, former Sun Daniel Xavier rambled in from seven yards, then following a Bedore interception, Downey hauled in a 30-yard strike from Bowcott.

Lake says he was at a loss to explain what happened Saturday.

"If I could put my finger on it I'd be a genius. Ultimately after you clinch a playoff berth, you have week of practice, we had a scholarship dinner and didn't practice on day three. There were a whole bunch of factors," says Lake.

"We put a young club out there - we're only losing seven 22-year-olds. What do you say."

The lone bright spot in the game was a 92-year touchdown run by Alex Bradley early in the third quarter.

Bradley's touchdown came moments after Jordan Linnen returned the opening kick-off of the second half 90 yards for a touchdown.

Sun kicker Steve Shott, suiting up for just his second game in over a year, didn't dress for the second half.

"We wanted to keep him warm. For him to stand out here with his back in a nothing game in the second half didn't make any sense," says Lake.

The Sun finished the game with 122 yards in total offence and two first downs while turning the ball over three times.

Unofficially, the Rams gained 283 yards.

Following Saturday's game, members of the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport were on hand to conduct random drug tests on players from both teams.

CCES conduct tests on players within the BCFC once a year.

Sun players Bobby Davis and Alex Hupe were randomly selected from the Sun roster.

The Sun travel to Nanaimo next weekend in one BCFC semi-final while the Rams host Westshore Rebels in the other.