Okanagan Sun dump Regina 28-14 in CJFL semi-final

Photo: Eric Stansfield

Sun hoist Intergold Cup after winning CJFL semi-final game in Regina Sunday

UPDATE 7:45 p.m.

Okanagan Sun running back Elelyon Noa and linebacker Jacob Bond were named offensive and defensive players of the game respectively in Sunday's 28-14 win in the Intergold Cup in Regina.

Noa ran for nearly 100 yards and a touchdown. He also threw for a two-point conversion.

Bond was the leading tackler in the game and also scored the first touchdown of the game on a third and goal from the Regina two.

ORIGINAL 3:45 p.m.

Road trips to Saskatchewan used to be where Okanagan Sun seasons went to die.

Not during the Travis Miller era.

After going winless in 10 trips to the prairies in franchise history, the Sun are now 2-0 in the last three years.

The latest, a 28-14 win Sunday over the Regina Thunder at windy Leibel Field in Regina in the Intergold Cup, CJFL national semi-final game.

The Sun will now face the St. Clair College Saints in the Canadian Bowl Nov. 9 in Windsor.

The offence did just enough for the Sun Sunday while the defence, which gave up 143 yards on the ground in the first half, stiffened over the final 30 minutes, limiting the Thunder to just a field goal on their first possession of the third quarter.

That tied it briefly at 14 before the Sun took over.

Liam Attwood booted field goals of 30 and 35 yards before the quarter was over then Elelyon Noa, who was held in check much of the afternoon, ripped off a 17-yard run with less than five minutes left to put the Sun up by 12.

Out of the wildcat, Noa threw for a two-point conversion, the pass deflected off a Thunder defender into the waiting arms of linebacker Mitchell Hickingbottom putting the Sun up 28-14.

The Thunder never threatened from there.

The Sun took advantage of great field position on their opening drive thanks to a short punt and a 15-yard no-yards penalty.

Starting at the Regina 36, they needed seven plays and a gutsy third and goal from the two to open the scoring.

Again working out of the wildcat, Noa handed off to linebacker Jacob Bond who just squeezed into the corner of the end zone.

But, the vaunted Thunder running game that torched the Saskatoon Hilltops for better than 300 yards in last weekend’s PFC final, took over near the end of the first quarter.

The Thunder drove 90 yards on 10 plays, eating up 72 of those on the ground. Sadik Sadik, who ran for 61 yards in the opening half capped off the drive with a three-yard touchdown run.

A single on the ensuing kickoff gave the Thunder their only lead of the game.

Penalties and turnovers hurt both teams throughout much of the opening half. The Sun fumbled three times, two of those by quarterback Liam Kroeger. However, the Thunder were only able to turn those into three points, a Shawn Green 19-yard field goal on the final play of the quarter.

Prior to that, with the Thunder driving, defensive back David Lewis, who intercepted three passes in the BCFC title game, stepped in front of an intended receiver and scampered 73 yards down the right sideline to give the Sun a 14-8 lead.

The defence stiffened in the second half, allowing just 59 yards on the ground and forcing two late turnovers, a fumble recovery and interception from Vicente Ferreira.

The Thunder passing game was also nearly non-existent, throwing for just 94 yards.

Kroeger, who has gone the distance the last two games after seeing only spot duty during the regular season, completed 11 of 20 passes for 138 yards.

Noa was also held in check much of the day, running for 86 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries.

It wasn’t until the fourth quarter, when he broke runs of eight, 16 and 17 yards did he have any success on the ground.

The Sun have two weeks now to get healthy and prepare for the Canadian Bowl.

St. Clair advanced to the title game with a 75-39 win over London in Saturday’s Ontario final.

The Sun beat the Saints 42-24 in the Intergold Cup two years ago on their way to a national championship.