This was a game for the ages鈥攐ne that will be discussed, dissected and deliberated over for a long time.
The Okanagan Sun pulled another gritty comeback from their bag of tricks and when the final whistle blew and the dust had settled it was a thrilling edge of your seat 43-39 victory over the Westshore Rebels.
Going in it had all the ingredients for a classic battle, both teams undefeated, league statistic leaders on each team, and a mutual dislike for one another.
It was just after Rebels quarterback Gavin Session found his favorite target, wide receiver, Zion Brown for his fourth touchdown of the game that Sun quarterback Liam Kroeger went to work.
He connected with running back Gerren Hardisty on a 55-yard catch and run down to the Rebels 15 yard line. Next play, Kroeger hit receiver Jasiah Haliburton in the end zone making it 39-33 Rebels with just under 10 minutes to play.
The turning point of the game came on a Rebels third and one at their own 29-yard line, looking like they were going to punt, they direct snapped to a running back who bobbled the ball and was buried for a loss and turnover on downs. It was Sun ball at the Westshore 27.
Kroeger once again chipped his way toward the end zone, with some penalty assistance, and with the ball at the two yard line, called his own number for the touchdown. That put the Sun ahead 40-39 with 6:24 left.
The Sun defense stood tall in the closing minutes chasing Rebels quarterback Session from the pocket for three straight sacks.
Sun Kicker Liam Attwood kicked a 29-yard field goal with 2:14 remaining to seal the 43-39 win.
Okanagan dug themselves some deep holes with undisciplined penalties, which allowed the Rebels to put up 10 points in the first quarter. The Sun finished the game with 17 flags for 194 yards.
Back-up quarterbak Marcus Christos added two more rushing touchdowns giving him a league leading five on the season. Kroeger, with his best performance of the young season, went 20 of 29 for 309 yards and two touchdowns. He leads the league in total passed yards with 901.
Speaking of league leaders, Gerren Hardisty continues to pile up the yards. With 149 yards on 26 carries, he now has a league leading 549 rushing yards with a 137.3-yard rush average. Hardisty added 64 yards on two receptions for a game offensive total of 213 yards.
The Sun net offensive totals were an impressive 478 yards to the Rebels 303.
On the defensive side of the ball, linemates JaQuintis Summers and Jarveon Williams were stirring it up once again. Summers finished with two sacks for a league leading total of eight, while Williams chipped in with two pass knockdowns and one sack. Defensive back Tariq Brown hauled in two interceptions for a league leading total of four.
This is a bye week for the 4 and 0 Sun, returning to play on Saturday Aug., 23 when they face the Valley Huskers in Chilliwack. Okanagan returns home to the friendly confines of the Apple Bowl on Saturday Aug., to welcome the Kamloops Broncos.
