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The freshly minted B.C. Football Conference Okanagan Sun dominated the host Kamloops Broncos in their first regular-season game of the 2018 season on Sunday.
After a disappointing loss in last year's junior football playoff semifinal against the Vancouver Island Raiders, the 55-player game-day roster of the Sun left everything in Hillside Stadium on the way to a 56-6 victory over the Broncos.
The Sun controlled the gridiron through the first half, opening the 2018 scoring on an interception for a touchdown by Tye Kitzman. The Sun kept their foot on the pedal, shutting out the Broncos offence and heading into the latter half of the game with a 38-0 lead.
Pick 6 and we up 7
— Okanagan Sun (@okanagan_sun) August 5, 2018
💪😤🏈@kitzman_tye @BCFC_Media pic.twitter.com/dr2v7ybP0U
Overall, the Sun gained an identical 209 yards rushing and passing while the Broncos, who ended the 2017 season with a 2-8 regular-season record, found it difficult penetrating the Sun defence. They earned only five first downs while totaling just 68 total yards and finishing with a net offence of 38. The Broncos' only points came on a touchdown by Kurtis Mutschmann on a fumble by second-half quarterback Matthew Mahler in the third quarter.
Starting quarterback, Jacob Loucks, was good on eight of 13 pass attempts for 127 yards; threw one TD pass; and ran in for another. Mahler also tossed a touchdown pass and completed six of 14 passes in the second half.
Other Sun TDs along the ground came from Jess Amankwaa and Kelton Kouri while the latter also caught a touchdown pass to go along with one TD reception by Cole Stroud. Amankwaa led all 10 ball carriers on the day, rushing for 42 yards on 10 carries. Lawrenzo Dissee covered 34 yards on four carries.
21-0 Sun
— Okanagan Sun (@okanagan_sun) August 5, 2018
💪😤🏈 pic.twitter.com/RmjxqErSfc
Isaac Wegner kicked two field goals — from 42 and 29 yards out — and converted seven Sun TDs.
Defensively, Miguel Wood and Conner Novak led the way with four tackles apiece. Novak's total included a quarterback sack. Conner Richard and Casey Pyper both contributed three tackles.
The Sun, who don't play their first home game until Sept. 8, will continue their 2018 campaign against the Westshore Rebels on Saturday at the Westhills Stadium in Victoria (4 p.m.).
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