Battle of the undefeated highlights BCFC’s Week 5 schedule (video)

The 2011 BCFC regular season officially reaches the midway mark on Saturday and the most anticipated tilt on this week’s schedule will take place at Caledonia Park in Nanaimo where the Vancouver Island Raiders (4-0) and Okanagan Sun (4-0) put their respective perfect seasons on the line in a rematch of last year’s Cullen Cup final.

The Raiders and Sun may have identical records heading into Saturday’s clash (4 pm kickoff) but the statistics suggest the Raiders are in a class of their own so far this season out-scoring their opponents by a whopping 223-29 through four games.

The Sun, while putting up impressive numbers of their own out-scoring their opponents 137-58, have not been quite as dominant in their outings compared to the Raiders as they’ve had a number of close calls most notably in Week 3 when they barely squeaked by the Langley Rams by a 15-14 score. However, they are coming off their most lopsided victory of the season after knocking off the Westshore Rebels by a 49-7 score last Saturday.

Despite the statistical disparities, you can bet Saturday’s tilt will be a close one based on recent history between the two clubs. Last year, the Sun were the only the team that managed to score a victory over the Raiders defeating them on home turf in Week 3 and snapping Vancouver Island’s 25-game winning streak in the process. The Raiders ultimately got the last laugh beating the Sun in the Cullen Cup final but that game came right down to the wire with Vancouver Island just eking out with a 16-14 win.

Vancouver Island is coming off a 52-3 thrashing of the Chilliwack Huskers on Sunday.

Other games taking place this Saturday include the Kamloops Broncos (1-3) heading over to Bear Mountain Stadium to face the Westshore Rebels (2-2). The Broncos, who fell to the previously winless Langley Rams by a 28-10 score last week, are looking to avoid their third consecutive loss while the Rebels are hoping to avoid falling under .500 for the first time this season. Kickoff is 4 pm.

Week 5 action wraps up at McLeod Stadium when the Langley Rams (1-3), coming off their first win of the season last week, look to make it two in a row when they play host to the winless Chilliwack Huskers (0-4) also on Saturday. Kickoff is 7 pm.

All six BCFC teams will have a bye in Week 6 for Labour Day Weekend before resuming play the following weekend starting on Saturday, September 10.