Okanagan Sun land spot in CJFL final

UPDATE:

The Okanagan Sun will contest the 2022 Canadian Bowl after a big win over Ontario champions St. Clair Saints in Windsor on Saturday evening in the CJFL National Semi-Final. 

The final score was 42-24. The Sun amassed a huge 28-3 half-time lead and despite a Saints resurgence in the third quarter, The Sun surged into their first national final since 2015.

Jevon Garwood was named the Offensive Player of the Game with three touchdowns on 19 carries for 157 yards. Dominic Britton meanwhile completed 19 passes for 210 yards.

The Sun will travel to either Regina or Saskatoon on November 12th to play for the title.

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To say the Okanagan Sun had a good season would be an understatement.

Not only did the team dominate the BC Football Conference (BCFC) with a perfect 10-0 record in the regular season, but they also captured their first Cullen Cup since 2015.

“Last year we lost the Cullen Cup, and since then, we’ve been on a mission,” Head Coach Travis Miller told Kelowna10.

With that celebration of their conference victory behind them, the team is now shifting focus towards earning a spot in the national championships.

To get there, the team needs to get past the squad from the Ontario Football Conference, the St. Clair Saints, in the national semi-finals on Saturday.

“They’re a big strong physical team, they’re affiliated with St. Claire College, so they have a lot of funding and great facilities,” Miller said. “At the end of the day, it’ll be two undefeated teams matching up with the end goal for a chance to go to the national title on the line.”

The last time the Sun played in a national semi-final was back in 2004 when they beat the St. Leonard Cougars 24-7.

“We’ve been on a mission not only just to win the Cullen Cup in the BC Championship, but also to go to the national final and win that game too,” Miller said. “The process getting here has been more than 12 months and it’s been a pleasure working with the guys. We have a very veteran crew and it’s been a wild opportunity for us.”

Miller added this Sun team is a veteran-filled group that sticks to the game plan every night which ultimately has led the team to the success in the 2022 season.

“Everybody’s executing the system and that’s the biggest thing is that our players who excelled and done quite well are a result of the system we’re playing,” Miller explained. “It’s a collective team effort, it’s great to see individual recognition but at the end of the day, there’s only one cup that matters.”

The Sun had nine players named to the 2022 BCFC All Star Team. Four offensive players, three in defense and one kicker.

Among those having a dominant season is Quarterback Dominic Britton. He was among the league leaders in touchdowns, and completion percentage.

“I’ve never been part of a team with the comradery that we have. All of us have the drive and it feels really good to be a part of,” he said.

The third year QB is in his second year as a starter and despite what he can do on the field, Britton’s always been a team first guy.

“If you’re playing for yourself and stats, you’re not going not be successful that way,” he said “The team’s always been first on my mind so I’ve been playing for them, giving them my all.”

The Sun travelled by bus to YVR then onto a flight to Ontario, for the big clash at Acumen Stadium in Windsor on Saturday.

The winner will play for the national championship against the winner of the other semi-final, Saskatoon Hilltops v Regina Thunder.