A Valley Husker team looking for any type of victory got a moral one Saturday, giving the high-powered Okanagan Sun a tough test at Townsend Park Saturday afternoon.
The Huskers lost the game 38-17.
But considering the score the last time these teams met, they showed they are a much improved team.
The Sun smacked the Huskers 65-10 in a week one BC Football Conference game in Kelowna, a result that was later turned into a 1-0 Husker win due to a roster irregularity.
On Saturday, Chilliwack was right with the Sun up to halftime, trailing 19-10 at the break.
A lousy third quarter killed the Huskers, who trailed 33-10 through 45 minutes.
But the big picture suggests a team heading in the right direction.
The Huskers did some good things offensively.
Quarterback Cody Parray had a good day, completing 20 of 32 passes for 159 yards.
“He protected the ball well, and he was efficient,” Husker head coach Tyson St. James said of his pivot, who also scrambled four times for 31 yards.
Blake Draper proved uncoverable, catching 14 balls for 104 yards to lead the receivers.
“He is coming on to be the player I thought he could be,” St. James said.
Husker running backs averaged four yards per carry, led by Ty Derayos, who chewed up 70 yards on 20 rushes.
Derayos had Chilliwack’s only offensive touchdown.
Kicker Dan Erickson booted a 33 yard field goal, and had a single point off a miss.
The other Husker major came from Jerry Sidhu, who returned a fumble 25 yards.
Kris Bush had an interception and Hayden Jeffries a quarterback sack as the Huskers held the high-powered Sun offence to 302 net yards.
“I feel we’re getting stronger as a D each week, and some of our younger players are starting to respond to the coaching,” St. James said. “Our coverage has been much better, and that’s just players understanding where they are and where they need to be.”
Alex Bradley, Lerone Robinson and Tommy Howes had offensive majors for the Sun, who had three field goals as well.
The other Sun major came off a blocked punt.
Chilliwack visits Langley this weekend.
