Okanagan Sun improve to 7-0 with blowout win over Valley Huskers

Photo: Marissa Baecker-Shoot the Breeze/file

The Okanagan Sun utilized their running and short passing games to near perfection in a dominating 49-7 dismantling of the Valley Huskers Saturday at the Apple Bowl.

The Sun ran the ball 36 times, racking up 287 yards in the process, just shy of eight yards a carry on the afternoon in an impressive ground and pound display not seen this season.

Much of the depth chart got into the act, led by lead back Jevon Garwood who torched the Huskers for 95 yards and three touchdowns on just 11 carries, highlighted by a 58-yard run to daylight on the first play of their second drive of the opening quarter.

It was his second touchdown of the first quarter. Quarterback Dominic Britton surgically marched the Sun 68 yards in nine plays, capped off by Garwood's four-yard scamper.

Early in the third quarter already up 21-0, Nathan Tonogai gave the offence great field position, returning a short punt 39 yards to the Huskers three. Garwood found the end zone on the next play.

Aidan Wiberg and Tristen Peddle also got into the act as the Sun emptied their bench throughout much of the second half with the game fairly well in hand.

Wiberg barreled his way in from a yard out, part of his seven carry, 57-yartd outing, while Peddle carried eight times for 54 yards, highlighted by a 22-yard touchdown scamper.

"We know how good our run game is, how positive it's been. We've been trying to use out pass game to set up the run game, and tonight we went back to our roots and we dominated on the ground," said head coach Travis Miller.

Miller gave a lot of the credit for the success of both the ground game and the short passing game to the hogs upfront on the offensive line.

"Our o-line from the ground up has been rebuilt this year,all brand new starters across the board.

"The put in a ton of work, and they're really, really good guys but they're also mean and nasty boys. They put in the grind and it shows in the scores."

Britton completed 14 of his 18 throws for 201 yards and a pair of touchdowns to Noah Bymak ,including a 47-yard strike.

Bymak finished the night with five catches for 85 yards and the two scores. The first came moments after he inexplicably lost the handle while running across the middle, and fumbled the football away.

The defence forced three interceptions, including two from defensive back Kemarr Bishop. They also got to quarterback Josh Janssen five times, led by Romareo Reid and JJ Heaton, who collected two sacks apiece.

The Huskers lone score came on a 50-yard strike from Janssen to Dhag Mora. The two hooked up on another long touchdown strike that was called back for offensive offside.

The Sun defence held the Huskers to 230 yards of total offence, compared with 480 gained by the Sun.

The 7-0 Sun can officially lock up top spot in the BCFC with a win next Saturday against the 4-4 Langley Rams.

Saturday's contest at the Apple Bowl, the final regular season home game for the Sun, could also serve as a first round playoff preview.