A late hit late in the first half of last Saturday乌鸦传媒檚 game against the Westshore Rebels sent pivot Jakob Loucks to the sidelines for the duration of the night at Westhills Stadium.
If all goes as planned this week, the hope to see its No. 1 quarterback back on the field Saturday at Exhibition Stadium when the B.C. Football Conference Club takes on the Valley Huskers.
乌鸦传媒淜eeping him out in the second half (against the Rebels) was precautionary, we felt there was nothing to gain by forcing him back in and risking further injury,乌鸦传媒� head coach Ben Macauley said of Loucks, who played last season with the Mount Allison University Mounties. 乌鸦传媒淗e was having trouble with mobility and we wanted to be careful with any symptoms he might be having.
乌鸦传媒淲e think he乌鸦传媒檒l be OK, we乌鸦传媒檒l watch him closely this week,乌鸦传媒� added Macauley, 乌鸦传媒渂ut with seven games still to go in the season we didn乌鸦传媒檛 want to take any unnecessary chances if we don乌鸦传媒檛 have to.乌鸦传媒�
Whether Loucks starts or rests in favour of backup Matthew Mahler, the Sun isn乌鸦传媒檛 certain which version of the Valley Huskers they will encounter Saturday乌鸦传媒攖he one that upset the Vancouver Island Raiders 33-31 on opening night; or the one that was soundly drubbed last week (42-9) at home to the Langley Rams.
Regardless, Ben Macauley said his club will be taking nothing for granted.
乌鸦传媒淭he (Huskers) are potentially a physical team, they definitely have some playmakers, and (coach) Bob Reist has done an excellent job with their program. They probably aren乌鸦传媒檛 where they乌鸦传媒檇 like to be but we can乌鸦传媒檛 take anyone lightly. We have to give them the full package and play them like we乌鸦传媒檇 play any team. We expect a hard fought game.乌鸦传媒�
Last Saturday night in Victoria, with Loucks sidelined and Mahler at the controls in the second half, the Sun (1-0-1) went on to settle for an 18-18 draw with the hometown Rebels (1-0-1).
Down by one point with just six seconds to play, Okanagan could have just as easily departed the island with a victory, but Isaac Wegner乌鸦传媒檚 field goal attempt from 21 yards away sailed wide.
A win on the road against one of the BCFC乌鸦传媒檚 top clubs would have been preferable, but Macauley said the Sun can use the missed opportunity as motivation going forward.
乌鸦传媒淲e try to see it as a positive, but it did feel more like a loss for us than anything, so we can use this to keep us hungry,乌鸦传媒� said Macauley. 乌鸦传媒淚 think what it reinforced was that we乌鸦传媒檙e an even-keeled team. We got down in the last part of the game and Tye Kitzman made a great play to get the block and get the ball for us.
乌鸦传媒淎t no point did we feel like hanging our heads. It says a lot about our team乌鸦传媒檚 resolve乌鸦传媒t was good to be challenged early in the season.乌鸦传媒�
乌鸦传媒� Okanagan Sun (@okanagan_sun)
Macauley said the Sun still has 乌鸦传媒渁 lot of work to do offensively乌鸦传媒� but on the upside, the club乌鸦传媒檚 defense continues to live up to all expectations.
The Sun has yielded just 24 points in two games this season, with half of those points coming on turnovers by the offense.
乌鸦传媒淭hey乌鸦传媒檙e an impressive group,乌鸦传媒� Macauley said of the Sun defense. 乌鸦传媒淲e have playmakers and all-stars at every position group. They put a lot of pressure on quarterbacks and they can be very opportunistic.乌鸦传媒�
Kick off Saturday at Exhibition Stadium between the Sun and Huskers is 7 p.m.
Okanagan乌鸦传媒檚 home opener is Saturday, Sept. 8 at the Apple Bowl against the Langley Rams.
Dheilly player of week乌鸦传媒�
The announces the Week 2 Players of the Week, now VOTE to make one of them the Fans Choice Player of the Week, polls open now.
乌鸦传媒� CJFL News (@CJFLnews)
Sun defensive lineman Nick Dheilly is the BCFC乌鸦传媒檚 special teams player of the week.
The former University of Regina Rams star had four sacks, two tackles and one assisted tackle in Saturday乌鸦传媒檚 18-18 tie with the hometown Westshore Rebels.
乌鸦传媒淗e has incredible speed and awareness,乌鸦传媒� Ben Macauley said of Dheilly. 乌鸦传媒淓verybody乌鸦传媒檚 when he gets on the field, to see what乌鸦传媒檚 going to happen.乌鸦传媒�
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