Four weeks into the 2017 campaign, the Okanagan Sun couldn乌鸦传媒檛 be any better positioned in the B.C. Football Conference.
The Vancouver Island Raiders would like nothing more than to shelve the Sun乌鸦传媒檚 prospects of an unbeaten season.
With the Sun (4-0) one game up on the Raiders (3-1) atop the BCFC, the longtime rivals will meet for the first time this season on Saturday afternoon at Nanaimo乌鸦传媒檚 Caledonia Park.
As much as remaining undefeated at the midway mark of the season makes for an attractive story line, Sun head coach Ben Macauley said winning this weekend isn乌鸦传媒檛 the be-all, end-all for his football club.
乌鸦传媒淥bviously we乌鸦传媒檙e going to play this game to win, but we don乌鸦传媒檛 want to make it too important,乌鸦传媒� said Macauley. 乌鸦传媒淲e started 6-0 last year, then lost three in a row after that, so we know what can happen.
乌鸦传媒淲e just have to focus on the importance of doing our jobs,乌鸦传媒� added Macauley. 乌鸦传媒淚f we go in and do things the right way, we乌鸦传媒檒l win the game. It乌鸦传媒檚 cliche, but every week we want to go 1-0. If we think about maybe running the table, we乌鸦传媒檙e not focusing on the right things.乌鸦传媒�
Both teams head into Saturday乌鸦传媒檚 matchup on a high after blowout wins last weekend on home turf. The Sun drubbed the Valley Huskers 71-7 at the Apple Bowl, while VI eviscerated the Kamloops Broncos 51-10 Saturday in Nanaimo.
Despite not having met this season, the Sun coaching staff has a good handle on the type of opponent they乌鸦传媒檒l be seeing on Saturday.
乌鸦传媒淭hey乌鸦传媒檙e a well-coached team, not unlike Raiders乌鸦传媒� teams of the past,乌鸦传媒� said Macauley. 乌鸦传媒淭hey play an aggressive style of football, and they can ride the edge of aggression and cockiness. They have a tough, blue-collar mentality. They look like a solid football team.乌鸦传媒�
The Raiders are led offensively by returning quarterback Jake Laberge and receiver/returner Brycen Mayoh, who returned a punt and a missed field goal for touchdowns last week.
D-lineman Quintin Bowles, who recorded five sacks Saturday against Kamloops, is back this season from the University of Manitoba and has been dominant on the Raiders乌鸦传媒� defense.
As for the Sun乌鸦传媒檚 quarterbacking situation, Keith Zyla is expected back on the field this weekend after missing three games with a lower body injury. In Zyla乌鸦传媒檚 absence, third-year pivot Nick Wenman went a perfect 3-0, while passing for 729 yards and eight touchdowns.
The Sun and the rest of the BCFC will have a bye for the Labour Day weekend. Okanagan乌鸦传媒檚 next home action is Sunday, Sept. 10 against the Raiders.
Berrios honoured乌鸦传媒�
Sun defensive back Aldrich Berrios has been named the BCFC乌鸦传媒檚 defensive player of the week.
The 21-year-old BCFC rookie tied a club record with four interceptions Saturday night at the Apple Bowl in 71-7 victory over the Valley Huskers.
Berrios, a product of Notre Dame high school in Vancouver, also recovered a fumble.
Berrios also plays with the UBC Okanagan Heat men乌鸦传媒檚 basketball team.
