Sun run all over Rams

Photo: Wayne Moore

Nick Wenmn dives in for his first of three touchdowns Sunday.

Okanagan Sun head coach Ben Macauley called it a good display of playoff football.

A time when yards are harder to come by, and a good ground attack is key to success.

Unofficially, the Sun rolled up 324 yards on the ground in a sloppy 24-10 win over the visiting Langley Rams.

It was the final regular season home game for the Sun, (8-0-1), who close out the regular portion of the schedule in Victoria next weekend.

"We knew our offensive line was capable of pushing them around a little bit. They are really aggressive, so once we got through the first group of tacklers, we were good for long gains," said Macauley.

"We really needed a solid running game, we think that's going to be important in then playoffs. But, we have to get better production out of our offence in general in the passing game. That comes down to quarterback play, so we have to get better there."

Rookie running back Robbie Rodrigues was the workhorse in the backfield, running for 180 yards on 15 carries.

A 52 yard run on second and 22 early in the third led to Nick Wenman's five-yard touchdown run.

Rodrigues also turned a fourth quarter screen in a 52-yard play that set up the game clinching touchdown, a 34-yard run by Wenman.

"Robbie is a veteran guy, he's experienced and he has a way of making guys miss.

"We were really happy to see him get what he's deserved for all the hard work he's put in this year, and have it all come together with great blocking schemes set up."

Wenman, who has been lights out through the air in large stretches of the season had a tough time finding his receivers all day long. Partly due to a wet football after a brief pre-game rain storm, Wenman short-hopped at least a half dozen wide-open receivers during the game.

He completed just 11 of 24 passes for 166 yards, but two of those were short passes that turned into 92 yards of real estate.

Wenman made up for it with his legs, running for 60 yards and all three Sun majors.

The Sun pivot put the Sun on the board 10 minutes into the first quarter. After an Aldrich Barrios interception, Wenman moved the team 56 yards in four plays, capping the drive off with a 12-yard run.

Rams starter Colby Peters tied it early in the second quarter when his first completion went for a 41-yard touchdown to Khalik Johnson.

Isaac Wegner put the Sun ahead for good when he connected on a 32-yard field goal on the final play of the half.

The three pointer capped off a strange final minute. The Sun were stopped on three cracks from inside the five in the dying moments of the half.

Then, while trying to burn the clock, the Rams took an ill-advised no yards penalty on the final play of the half giving Wegner a shot at the three points.

Trailing 17-10 late in the game, the Rams marched the ball down the filed behind backup quarterback Stephen Legare. With first down at the four, Legare's toss into the end zone was intercepted by Casey Pyper.

Four plays later, Wenman ran in from 34-yards out to ice it.

The Sun could have won this one going away, but penalties continue to rear their ugly head. The Sun were flagged for 21 infractions for over 200 yards in real estate.

Despite some struggles, Macauley said there were a lot of positives to take away.

"One of the positives was we played well across the line of scrimmage, and that's playoff style football.

"No matter what happens around you, if you can win the battle of the trenches and get pressure on the quarterback, you make them do things they don't want to do.

"We went into this game in attack mode, and I think we did a good job with that on the offensive line and defensive line."

The Sun and Westshore Rebels close out the regular season Next Saturday in Victoria, in a game that will decide first place in the BCFC, and home field advantage throughout the league playoffs.