Sun can clinch BCFC title

The Okanagan Sun face their biggest test to date when they host the reigning BC Football Conference champion Westshore Rebels Saturday night at the Apple Bowl.

On the line, an opportunity to clinch the BCFC regular season title.

“For our team, the initial goal was to clinch first place in our conference so we can host the playoffs at the Apple Bowl, and Saturday we get the opportunity to go out and reach the first of our many goals,” said head coach Travis Miller.

The Sun come into the game with a perfect 8-0 record while the Rebels, who were upset at home 23-10 by Langley last Sunday, are 5-2.

But, to keep the perfect record intact, the Sun will need to be more consistent than they were the first time the teams met.

In that game, the Sun jumped out to an early 8-0 lead but surrendered 24 unanswered points, trailing by 12 going into the final quarter. They outscored the Rebels 17-2 in the final quarter in a 33-30 win.

“We are a different team than we were six weeks ago. We are definitely more polished, more battle tested.

“One of the biggest differences between then and now is that we have been tested. Our guys understand what it’s like to win a close game, to battle through and continue.”

While the Sun can reach their team goal of winning a regular season title, running back Elelyon Noa is closing in on the team single-season rushing record.

Noa enters the game with 1,152 yards, 215 behind Malcolm Miller’s record established three years ago.

“I’d be lying if I said nobody looks at records,” said coach Miller.

“We all look at them and we all know what they are. I think everybody is looking at it like is it going to happen, when is it going to happen and how is it going to happen.

“From our standpoint, we want to give him the best opportunity to run the ball, catch the ball and do everything he does and, if he happens to set records at the same time then that’s even better.”

But, team goals come first.

And, Noa has two games left to achieve that goal.

Saturday’s game kicks off at 7 at the Apple Bowl.

As an added feature, Olympic gold medalist and former Okanagan Sun Jerome Blake will be in attendance at the game.