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Okanagan Sun won their fourth in a row, beating up on the VI Raiders 70-25 Saturday

Record night for Sun

Mike O'Shea and Malcolm Miller both entered the record books in the Okanagan Sun 70-25 thrashing of the visiting VI Raiders Saturday at the Apple Bowl.

O'Shea, the BCFC leader in touchdowns entering Saturday's game took a wide field goal 15 yards deep in his end zone, shed a few tackles, and scampered down the left sidelines 125 yards for a touchdown.

It equalled the BCFC record for the longest return for a touchdown, matching a 125 yard return by Arman Pogosian of the Vancouver Trojans.

Running back Malcolm Miller, in just his seventh game, became the all-time Sun single season rushing leader.

Miller's record breaking run was a 23-yard scamper through several would-be tacklers midway through the third quarter.

He ended Saturday's game with 27 carries and 293 yards, unofficially giving him 1,272 yards on the season, breaking Ron Arnold's record of of 1,236 yards that stood since 1997.

"It is pretty neat to have a guy break a record at any time. He's done it seven games and done it playing half of half our games. It certainly shows the effort he's put in, and shows what our offence is capable of doing," said head coach Jamie Boreham.

"That's a pretty neat one, and we're got more to go."

The Sun threw a balanced attack at the Raiders, amassing more than 600 yards of total offence, 308 on the ground and 319 through the air.

But, it was some sloppy play by the defence and special teams and more untimely and costly penalties that stuck out with Boreham after the game.

The Sun gave up nearly 300 yards through the air as Raiders quarterback Jake Laberge picked the secondary apart at times, throwing for three first half touchdowns to at least give them some hope.

"It was embarrassing to have a game like that, and not respond and not adjust, and not play better and stop taking penalties."

"Those things are going to hurt us, and it hurt us tonight. We out ourselves behind the eight-ball in numerous situations...but, we're a better team than we were tonight, and we have to learn to be better and execute a whole lot smarter."

Dominic Britton had another big night under centre, completing 11 of 16 passes for 229 yards and four touchdowns.

After a slow start to the season, Britton has now passed for 551 yards, nine touchdown passes and no interceptions over the past two games.

Boreham says the chemistry in the passing game seems to finally be where he wants it to be.

O'Shea caught only two passes for 32 yards, but one was a 15 yard touchdown catch.

"I didn't even notice him tonight," said Boreham.

"Mike had such a quiet game, but that's the thing, he does his job and he does it really well. He's a great example with his effort. He does his job and he's successful, and we're successful.

"That's how teams win, and it's nice it's happening in a bunch of different phases of the game."

Miller and O'Shea share the league lead in touchdowns with 12 after Miller found the end zone three times, including twice on the ground.

Rookie running back Kaiden Banfield scored the final touchdown, taking a short pass from Alex Douglas late in the game, and speeding his way through the Raider defence for a 59-yard score, his first receiving touchdown in the BCFC.

The Sun led 17-7 after one quarter and 41-19 at the half before putting it out of reach with two more touchdowns in the third.

Kicker Liam Attwood converted all eight touchdowns and also booted three field goals in the win.

The Sun, 6-1, now get two weeks to prepare for their season ending showdown with the undefeated Langley Rams.

The two teams meet Saturday afternoon Oct. 30 at the Apple Bowl in a winner-take-all showdown for the BCFC regular season title.

The Sun will need to beat the Rams by eight or more points to secure top spot and home field advantage for as long as they stay alive in the playoffs.

Anything short of that would give the Rams the regular season title.



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