It wasn’t the way it was all supposed to end for this year’s version of the Okanagan Sun.
But as the players and coaching staff lingered on their home turf at the Apple Bowl on Sunday, dreams of a championship were replaced by thoughts of the future for several players who closed out their junior football careers and for Sun head coach Shane Beatty. The Sun dropped a 24-13 decision to the Langley Rams on Sunday in the BCFC semi final matchup Sunday at the Apple Bowl.
“It was a hard fought game but I knew this would be a battle,” said Beatty after the game. “We did everything we could to shut them down. I thought our kids played their butts off. We played hard in every facet of the game but unfortunately we came out on the wrong end. It was a heck of a game.”
The Rams won the game on the ground, amassing over 250 yards of rushing while the Sun were forced to take to the air after an early-game injury to starting running back Alex Bradley. Okanagan ended the game with just 76 yards on the ground.
Beatty said his defense did a good job but missed a few opportunities that could have changed the game.
“We tried to take away certain parts of the run and I thought we did a good job,” he said. “We missed two or three (interceptions) we should have had. Those aren’t characteristic of us. We usually make those. It just wasn’t our day.”
After lingering on the field and in the Sun dressing room for the final time this season players took to social media to express their thoughts after their season ended.
“Couldn’t ask for a better group of guys to spend the year with. Can’t imagine what coach has in store for us next year. Love you all,” tweeted Sun defender Jack Rush.
And what Beatty did in his first year as the Sun’s head coach appears to be revive faith in the team after several tumultuous years of uncertainty on the sidelines.
The team played with grit and determination and Beatty says he will be back at work Tuesday getting ready for next year.
“This year was a huge step in the right direction,” said Beatty. “I thought we could go a long way with these kids. Our goal is to win it all. I’m going to go out in the off season and look at some programs to see what we can do to shore up some things. We will be back next year and we will be better, I guarantee it.”
