The Okanagan Sun’s season came to a heartbreaking end on Sunday afternoon, as the team lost 15-8 to the Vancouver Island Raiders at the Apple Bowl.
The game was a defensive battle from the beginning, with both teams still scoreless after the end of the first quarter.
In the second, the Sun had a brilliant opportunity to put points on the board, after blocking punter Nic Hunchak’s kick and taking over deep in Rebels territory.
But Sun quarterback Keith Zyla would eventually throw an interception – the first of two picks from Shawn Arabsky on the afternoon – which led to a fumble recovery from the Raiders on Hunchak’s next punt.
Deep in the red zone, quarterback Jake Laberge connected with Brycen Mayoh for an eight-yard touchdown, making it 7-0 Raiders.
After VI kicker James Parker missed a 25-yard field goal, the Sun marched down the field late in the second quarter.
But a 42-yard attempt from Sun kicker Isaac Wegner sailed wide of the uprights on the final play, which only cut the Raiders lead to 7-1 at the half.
In the third quarter, the Raiders picked up where they left off.
Just past the halfway point of the third, Laberge found Mayoh wide open up the sideline, who took it in for a 52-yard touchdown, and a 14-1 lead.
Another missed field goal from Parker lead to a Raiders rouge, making it a 15-1 game.
But in the fourth quarter, the Sun offence finally began to click.
After a drive that was nearly the full length of the field, Conor Richard recorded his first offensive touchdown of the year, running it in from 1 yard out to cut the lead to 15-8.
In the final minutes, the Sun thought they were about to tie the game, when Rashaun Simonise ran a partially blocked punt 60+ yards back into the endzone.
But the officials flagged the Sun for running into the kicker, which extended the Raiders drive and allowed them to hang on for the win.
Despite finishing the game with more rushing yards (119-80), receiving yards (242-217), and first downs (21-13), the Sun did not win the turnover battle, highlighted by four interceptions thrown by Zyla.
With the win, the Raiders move on to play the Westshore Rebels for the Cullen Cup, in a game in Langford next Saturday.
The Sun will host their season-ending banquet and awards ceremony on Monday evening.
The game was a defensive battle from the beginning, with both teams still scoreless after the end of the first quarter.
In the second, the Sun had a brilliant opportunity to put points on the board, after blocking punter Nic Hunchak’s kick and taking over deep in Rebels territory.
But Sun quarterback Keith Zyla would eventually throw an interception – the first of two picks from Shawn Arabsky on the afternoon – which led to a fumble recovery from the Raiders on Hunchak’s next punt.
Deep in the red zone, quarterback Jake Laberge connected with Brycen Mayoh for an eight-yard touchdown, making it 7-0 Raiders.
After VI kicker James Parker missed a 25-yard field goal, the Sun marched down the field late in the second quarter.
But a 42-yard attempt from Sun kicker Isaac Wegner sailed wide of the uprights on the final play, which only cut the Raiders lead to 7-1 at the half.
In the third quarter, the Raiders picked up where they left off.
Just past the halfway point of the third, Laberge found Mayoh wide open up the sideline, who took it in for a 52-yard touchdown, and a 14-1 lead.
Another missed field goal from Parker lead to a Raiders rouge, making it a 15-1 game.
But in the fourth quarter, the Sun offence finally began to click.
After a drive that was nearly the full length of the field, Conor Richard recorded his first offensive touchdown of the year, running it in from 1 yard out to cut the lead to 15-8.
In the final minutes, the Sun thought they were about to tie the game, when Rashaun Simonise ran a partially blocked punt 60+ yards back into the endzone.
But the officials flagged the Sun for running into the kicker, which extended the Raiders drive and allowed them to hang on for the win.
Despite finishing the game with more rushing yards (119-80), receiving yards (242-217), and first downs (21-13), the Sun did not win the turnover battle, highlighted by four interceptions thrown by Zyla.
With the win, the Raiders move on to play the Westshore Rebels for the Cullen Cup, in a game in Langford next Saturday.
The Sun will host their season-ending banquet and awards ceremony on Monday evening.
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