Sun: Still perfect

Just like that, the streak is over.

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The Okanagan Sun brought down the mighty Vancouver Island Raiders 27-19 on Saturday night at the Apple Bowl. The two-time defending national champion Raiders came to Kelowna on a 24-game winning streak, dating back to an August 2008 loss here. But on this night, the Sun were by far the better team in all facets.

“That feels really, really good,” said fifth-year receiver Matt Scheurwater, who had only come out on the winning side just once before with the Sun against the Raiders. “It feels like a national championship tonight.”

The Sun won‘t get rings as a reward for their performance on Saturday.

Instead, they‘ll have to settle for first place in the BCFC standings, as Okanagan stayed perfect at 3-0 after prior wins over Surrey and Kamloops. Vancouver Island and Victoria were also 2-0 heading into Week 3, but Victoria dropped a 35-17 decision to the Surrey Rams earlier Saturday.

At the Apple Bowl, things got interesting in the fourth quarter, as the Raiders rallied to within eight points. But the Sun defence lived up to its bend-but-don‘t-break motto, and managed to maintain that point spread down the stretch.

Defensive lineman Ryan Keating ran down Raiders quarterback Jordan Yantz and sacked him on a third-down gamble to seal the deal.

“Defensively, at the end there, we put them in great position to score on us. But all night our defence was holding up and did a great job,” said Sun coach Pete McCall, who celebrated his first win over the Raiders in his sophomore season at the helm.

“The dam broke a couple times, but, overall, they were stellar again.”

The Sun got rolling offensively in the second quarter and kept it going in the third, as running back Tore Tarcon tallied two touchdowns – one rushing and one receiving – to give Okanagan a 27-11 lead.

After a bit of a feeling-out process to start the contest, the Sun offence found its rhythm, led by Scheurwater and new quarterback Bobby Davis.

Davis went 9-of-17 passing for 190 yards and also rushed for 40 yards on five carries. He continued to prove his worth in the second half and quieted any whispers of a quarterback controversy – finishing 15-of-25 for 302 yards and two touchdowns.

Throughout, the Raiders looked human without all-world running back Andrew Harris, who turned pro after last season and joined the CFL‘s B.C. Lions.

They will get their shot at redemption next Saturday, however, as the Sun make the return trip to Nanaimo.

Until then, the Sun will savour and celebrate this victory.

“That does make you feel pretty proud to be that team that knocked them off,” McCall said. “We‘re going to be happy about this one tonight and get back to work tomorrow.”

Larry Fisher – The Okanagan Sunday




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