Photo: Contributed
Former Okanagan Sun running back Elelyon Noa will begin the next chapter of his football journey with the BC Lions.
The Lions announced Tuesday they have signed the running back to a CFL contract.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Noa set the BCFC single season rushing record in 2024, rushing for 1,612 yards. He also set team records for rushing yards, rushing (23) and overall touchdowns (25), carries in a game and in a season.
He capped off his season by being named BCFC and CJFL offensive player of the year.
He was also named the offensive player of the game in both the BCFC championship game and the national semi-final.
He is the second player to sign with a CFL team directly after leaving the organization in the last three years. Defensive lineman Kelon Thomas signed with the Calgary Stampeders following the 2022 season.
"This is great for Elelyon and for the Sun organization,” said Sun head coach Travis Miller.
“Just from a work ethic, tenacity, drive and desire perspective, he’s a guy that embodies all of that. He spent three years in Division 1 football and that doesn’t happen by accident.”
Miller, during the past season said he looked forward to seeing Noa perform at the next level. He’ll now get that chance.
“I personally think he has all the potential to be a starting running back in the CFL.
“He set the record for the most rushing yards in the BC Football Conference…to put up the number of touchdowns he put up this year I think translates well to the professional game.”
Photo: Contributed
UPDATE 7:20 p.m.
The Ontario Football Conference ended a 25-year drought as the St. Clair Saints upended the Okanagan Sun 37-22 to win the Canadian Bowl in front of a home town crowd at Acumen Stadium in Windsor, Ont.
The Sun came out for the second half with a 15-6 lead and, after surrendering a field goal, quarterback Liam Kroeger hooked up with Ty Walker on a 76 yard touchdown strike to extend the lead to 13.
But, it was all St. Clair after that.
The Saints rode the arm of Maurice Sodja and an inopportune penalty to get the ball down to the one, where Sodja found pay dirt to cut the deficit to 22-16.
A tipped pass and interception on their next possession set up Sodja's three yard run giving the Saints their first lead of the game heading to the four quarter.
With the ball at their four, Kroeger mishandled a snap which the Saints recovered at the four. Sodja ran in his third touchdown in less than seven minutes on the next play and the Saints had a 30-22 lead and all the momentum.
The Sun were unable to do anything offensively the rest of the way.
Sodja capped off his offensive MVP performance with an eight yard touchdown pass to close out the scoring.
The Sun defence was unable to corral Sodja who ran for more than 100 yards and the three scores.
On the other side of the ball, Elelyon Noa was held in check after the opening series. He ran for just nine yards in the second half as the Sun were forced to throw the ball in an attempt to get back into the game.
Sun linebacker Jacob Bond was named the defensive player of the game. Bond left late in the game with a left leg injury.
He accepted his award on crutches with an ice bag on his ankle.
It's the first title for the Saints organization since they beat the Sun 32-29 back in 1999.
UPDATE 6:15 p.m.
The momentum has swung toward the St. Clair Saints with one quarter to go in the Canadian Bowl.
Trailing by 13, quarterback Maurice Sodja ran in touchdowns from one and three yards late in the third quarter to give the Saints a 23-22 lead heading to the final 15 minutes.
The go ahead score came after Liam Kroeger's second down pass was tipped, intercepted and returned to the Sun 13 yard line.
The Sun extended their lead 22-9 early in the third when Kroeger connected with Ty Walker on a 76 yard score.
UPDATE 5:30 p.m.
The Okanagan Sun lead the St. Clair Saints 15-6 at halftime of a mistake-filled Canadian Bowl at Acumen Stadium in Windsor, Ont.
Trailing 7-5 in the second quarter, the Saints got within a point on a 27 yard single off a missed field goal try.
But, mistakes by the Saints led to a second Sun touchdown. Liam Attwood missed on a 32-yard field goal, but the Saints returner fumbled the ball at the eight yard line. It was last touched by the Sun giving them first and goal at the eight.
Two plays later, Kroeger found Marcus Burden on an 11-yard fade route giving the Sun a 14-6 lead.
A punt single late in the quarter stretched the margin to nine.
The Saints had a chance to cut the deficit on the final play of the half, however a 32-yard field goal was wiped out by a too many men on the field penalty, pushing the attempt 10 yards further back.
The 42-yard try was no good.
Both teams have turned the ball over twice, three of those on special teams.
The Sun will get the ball to open the second half.
ORIGINAL 4:45 p.m.
The Okanagan Sun lead St. Clair Saints 7-5 after the opening quarter of the Canadian Bowl in Windsor.
The Sun struck first on their opening possession, needing just three plays from midfield to find the end zone.
Running back Elelyon Noa ran for a pair of 13 yard gains before Liam Kroeger hit Sam Melanson from 29 yards out to put the Sun up 7-0.
But, a muffed punt recovered by the Saints deep inside Sun territory led to a field goal.
On the next Sun possession deep in their own end, they conceded a safety rather than kick out of their own end zone.
As the quarter came to a close, the Saints were driving inside Sun territory.
Photo: Contributed
Elelyon Noa
Okanagan Sun running back Elelyon Noa has another individual award to add to his trophy case.
Noa was named the Canadian Junior Football League's offensive player of the year at the CJFL awards banquet on the eve of the tonight's Canadian Bowl in Windsor.
The award comes on top of numerous year ending team awards and offensive player of the game honours in both the BCFC and national semi-final games.
Noa led the CJFL in rushing with a BCFC record 1,612 yards. He added 25 touchdowns including 23 on the ground.
He is the sixth member of the Sun to be named offensive player of the year, joining Malcolm Miller (2021), Jeff Halvorson (2004), Zach Silverman (2000), Terrance Huston (1999) and Ron Arnold (1998).
First-year quarterback Marek Filipek was named the CJFL offensive rookie of the year.
Filipek threw for 1,316 yards and nine touchdowns through the regular season.
Regina Thunder linebacker Stephen Smith won his second straight defensive player of the year honour edging out Sun linebacker Jacob Bond.
Saskatoon head coach Tom Sargeant was named coach of the year for a third time after leading the Hilltops to a perfect record in the Prairie Football Conference. He beat out Sun head coach Travis Miller.
Kamloops kick returner Kaleb Senz was named special teams player of the year. He averaged nearly 19 yards per return, taking one back for a touchdown.
The Sun hope to bring back one more piece of hardware when they face the St Clair College Saints in this afternoon's Canadian Bowl.
Kickoff is 4 p.m.
Photo: Eric Stansfield
Sun go through their final workout in Windsor Friday.
The Okanagan Sun look to rewrite history when they face the St. Clair College Saints Saturday in the Canadian Bowl.
The Sun are looking to cap off another undefeated season with their second CJFL title in three years while the Saints are trying to win the first national title by an Ontario Football Conference champion in 25 years.
Ironically, it was the Windsor AKO Fratmen (now the Saints) who won that Canadian Bowl title in 1999 against the Okanagan Sun.
In one of the best finals in recent memory, the Fratmen edged the Sun 32-29 in a seesaw battle from start to finish.
That game was also played in Windsor.
“We have coaches that played in the 1999 Canadian Bowl. It’s been 25 years since that game and they still regret that loss,” said Sun coach Travis Miller earlier this week.
“One of the things we talked about is you can have 25 years of regret or you can have one day to win and have the best day of your life.”
The Sun come into the game relatively healthy and, according to Miller, the most prepared they can be.
"Two weeks gives us a lot of time to watch film, break down the opponent we are playing.
"We got guys off their feet for a couple of days which we don't normally get to do during the course of the season."
The Sun will face a Saints team Miller says has been building to this for the past three years.
The Saints dominated OFC competition, scoring 492 points while allowing just 34 in eight regular season games.
"They are an incredible team with a top notch offence and defence," says Miller
They are led by OFC offensive player of the year Maurice Sodja. The starting quarterback threw for over 1,500 yards and 22 touchdowns while running for 672 yards and eight scores.
He is expected to play after missing the OFC final due to injury.
His favourite target is all-Canadian Cameron St. Kitts who led the OFC with 29 catches for 468 yards and eight touchdowns. He added 213 yards and a pair of touchdowns in two playoff wins.
The Sun are playing in their 10th national championship game, looking to join the 1988, 2000 and 2022 championship teams.
The Saints franchise are playing in the title game for a ninth time. Under the Fratmen, they won three championships including two in the mid 50’s when they went to four straight championship games.
The Sun and Saints met just two years ago in the national semi-final game, a 42-24 Sun victory also in Windsor.
Kickoff is 4 p.m. Pacific Time. Temperatures are expected to hover around 10C with very little wind at kickoff.
In Kelowna, locals can listen to game coverage on AM 1150, or join others to watch the game at Dakoda's Sports Bar & Grill.
Photo: in_motion_sports_photography
Jacob Bond one of 7 Okanagan Sun named all-Canadians
Seven members of the Okanagan Sun have been named all-Canadians including five first-team all-Canadians.
The group is led by running back Elelyon Noa and linebacker Jacob Bond who are also up for CJFL offensive and defensive player of the year respectively.
Noa was the top rusher in the nation, running for a BC Football Conference record 1,612 yards and 23 touchdowns while Bond amassed 49 tackles, recovered two fumbles and had an interception.
Joining them on the first all-Canadian team are offensive lineman Kaiden Kerntopf, defensive back Ahmed Borhot who led the nation with eight interceptions and kicker Grady Hay who averaged 38.15 yards per punt during the regular season.
Offensive lineman Michael Astone and defensive back Kenley Williams, who intercepted five passes during the regular season, were named to the second team.
The St. Clair College Saints, who will face the Sun in Saturday’s Canadian Bowl, led the way with nine total all-Canadians, including five on the first team.
Saturday’s Canadian Bowl begins at 4 p.m. Pacific Time Saturday from Windsor.
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