Everything went according to the script for the underdog Okanagan Sun on the weekend as the struggling BCFC Football Club team went into Nanaimo to play the powerhouse Vancouver Island Raiders, the six time defending BCFC champions.
That is until the final play of the game.
The Sun played a near perfect road game in trying to pull off the upset, right down to a masterful final drive by rookie quarterback Cam Bedore, who brought the Sun into field goal range, down by two points and in the dying seconds.
But for the second straight game in Nanaimo, a Sun kicker missed a late field goal allowing the Raiders to escape with a 32-30 win over Okanagan.
“That’s eight quarters in Nanaimo and it came down to two fields goals that we had in the end of the game,” said Sun head coach Gavin Lake. “It’s too bad but that’s why you play the game. We had a great game and I hope we see those guys again.”
Bedore finished the game 13-for-26 for 174 yards, one touchdown and one interception while Alex Bradley led the Sun on the ground with 97 yards rushing on 13 carries. The Sun led 21-12 at the half but allowed 17 third quarter points to the Raiders, who improved to 7-0-1 while the Sun fell to 2-6-0 with the loss.
“Our guys get fired up playing Nanaimo and put together a strong four quarter game,” said Lake. “That’s the six-time defending provincial champions and you have to look at that as a positive and build on that.”
With the BCFC season winding down, the Sun are tied for the final playoff position in the BCFC with the Kamloops Broncos. This weekend the Sun will take on the 0-and-8 Chilliwack Huskers while Kamloops will take on the Westshore Rebels. A Sun win combined with a Kamloops loss will secure a playoff position for the Sun, who will close the season against Langley in two weeks time.
“It’s hard to get up for a game against a weaker opponent and Chilliwack unfortunately are having a real tough season,” said Lake. “We have to look at this as a warm up for Langley, get some young guys some reps, get feeling good about ourselves and build some positive energy heading into Langley.”
