CJFL: BCFC Cullen Cup Preview

Photo courtesy of Greystoke Photography

For the first time since 2010 the Okanagan Sun will host the VI Raiders in the BCFC’s Cullen Cup championship game, set for this Sunday at the Apple Bowl.

It’ll be the fifth time in history these two have met in the championship game with the Sun still looking for their first win.  They played in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2010.  The Raiders have outscored the Sun 139-77 with the offensive talents of Andrew Harris and Jordan Yantz, playing in these previous meetings.

This season the Sun defence has dominated the Raiders offence sacking All-Canadian quarterback Liam O’Brien 23 times in the two meetings.   As well the defence hasn’t allowed a touchdown pass and just 10 points in total.  For O’Brien, against all the other BCFC teams combined, he has thrown 20 touchdown passes and three interceptions.  Against the Sun this season, he hasn’t thrown a TD pass, but has tossed three picks.  The lone touchdown the Sun have allowed came on an O’Brien rush at the Apple Bowl in Week 7.  Jonas Gering the BCFC’s Most Outstanding Defensive Lineman of the Year has sacked the Raiders nine times, Lucas Machado and Ryley Butler have collected five sacks each.

As a matter of fact the defence has been so dominating the Raiders offence has collected 162 total yards in both meetings combined.  Due to the 13 sacks and penalties in Week 7, as a group they lost 127 yards.  Also in the two games combined the “D” has given up just 87 yards on the ground.

That said, this Raiders team has the ability to put points on the board in a hurry and are very comfortable playing from behind.  They have dynamic play makers with O’Brien and the speedster Dustin Rodriguez.  Last week he caught a game high six passes for 133 yards and two touchdowns against a very talent Rams secondary.

The Raiders ground game hasn’t been the same since the injury to Nathan Berg.  He did carry once last week against the Rams for just three yards, but hasn’t seen the field in the seasonal series with the Sun.

Offensively for the Sun they have scored 56 points on the Raiders defence.  Cam Bedore has completed 24 passes for 301 yards and four touchdowns compared to just two interceptions.   Kyle Kawamoto has hauled in nine passes for 166 yards and two touchdowns, while Kyle Patchell has caught 10 balls for 170 yards and a score.

Where the passing attack has had success the run game hasn’t against a very strong Raiders front four.  They have been very good against the run all year long, slowing the Sun ground game to the tune of 92 yards in Week 7.  Quinton Bowles and Kaelen Botel have combined for eight tackles and two sacks against the Sun.

The Raiders secondary will be test again this weekend.  All-Stars Cole Virtanen (BCFC Rookie of the Year) and Josh Paisley will have their hands full with Kawamoto and Patchell but will be ready.  They have combined for 21 tackles and an interception in the series.

Sunday’s Cullen Cup will be the 29th time the Sun have played for the BCFC title, with a record of 14-14.  The Raiders have appeared in this championship game eight times have and have won an impressive seven times.  They have only won once on the road, that was in 2010 at the Apple Bowl.

Kick-off on Sunday is set for 1:00pm at the Apple Bowl.