Four weeks into the 2017 campaign, the Okanagan Sun couldn鈥檛 be any better positioned in the B.C. Football Conference.
The Vancouver Island Raiders would like nothing more than to shelve the Sun鈥檚 prospects of an unbeaten season.
With the Sun (4-0) one game up on the Raiders (3-1) atop the BCFC, the longtime rivals will meet for the first time this season on Saturday afternoon at Nanaimo鈥檚 Caledonia Park.
As much as remaining undefeated at the midway mark of the season makes for an attractive story line, Sun head coach Ben Macauley said winning this weekend isn鈥檛 the be-all, end-all for his football club.
鈥淥bviously we鈥檙e going to play this game to win, but we don鈥檛 want to make it too important,鈥� said Macauley. 鈥淲e started 6-0 last year, then lost three in a row after that, so we know what can happen.
鈥淲e just have to focus on the importance of doing our jobs,鈥� added Macauley. 鈥淚f we go in and do things the right way, we鈥檒l win the game. It鈥檚 cliche, but every week we want to go 1-0. If we think about maybe running the table, we鈥檙e not focusing on the right things.鈥�
Both teams head into Saturday鈥檚 matchup on a high after blowout wins last weekend on home turf. The Sun drubbed the Valley Huskers 71-7 at the Apple Bowl, while VI eviscerated the Kamloops Broncos 51-10 Saturday in Nanaimo.
Despite not having met this season, the Sun coaching staff has a good handle on the type of opponent they鈥檒l be seeing on Saturday.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e a well-coached team, not unlike Raiders鈥� teams of the past,鈥� said Macauley. 鈥淭hey play an aggressive style of football, and they can ride the edge of aggression and cockiness. They have a tough, blue-collar mentality. They look like a solid football team.鈥�
The Raiders are led offensively by returning quarterback Jake Laberge and receiver/returner Brycen Mayoh, who returned a punt and a missed field goal for touchdowns last week.
D-lineman Quintin Bowles, who recorded five sacks Saturday against Kamloops, is back this season from the University of Manitoba and has been dominant on the Raiders鈥� defense.
As for the Sun鈥檚 quarterbacking situation, Keith Zyla is expected back on the field this weekend after missing three games with a lower body injury. In Zyla鈥檚 absence, third-year pivot Nick Wenman went a perfect 3-0, while passing for 729 yards and eight touchdowns.
The Sun and the rest of the BCFC will have a bye for the Labour Day weekend. Okanagan鈥檚 next home action is Sunday, Sept. 10 against the Raiders.
Berrios honoured鈥�
Sun defensive back Aldrich Berrios has been named the BCFC鈥檚 defensive player of the week.
The 21-year-old BCFC rookie tied a club record with four interceptions Saturday night at the Apple Bowl in 71-7 victory over the Valley Huskers.
Berrios, a product of Notre Dame high school in Vancouver, also recovered a fumble.
Berrios also plays with the UBC Okanagan Heat men鈥檚 basketball team.
