Despite a “sloppy start” and taking 175 yards in penalties, the Okanagan Sun spoiled the Valley Huskers’ B.C. Football Conference home opener in Chilliwack on Saturday.
Keith Zyla, a third-string quarterback with the Sun last season, sparked the BCFC defending champions to a 35-point second quarter on the way to a 56-14 win at Exhibition Stadium.
Zyla took over from starting QB, Foster Martens, after the first quarter and then sat out the Sun’s scoreless third quarter, before returning in the fourth as the visitors added their final 14 points. Zyla threw just four passes (for 174 yards), three of which resulted in touchdowns — to Shamar Donelson, Liam Wishart and Brendan Hansen.
The Sun, who ran the ball 19 times for 124 yards, scored along the ground twice. Martens found the endzone from 26 yards out in the first quarter and Kasey Russell added seven points with a seven-yard scamper. Hansen led the team with 35 yards on seven carries.
Eighteen points came from the defence as D-backs Beck Fullerton and Jamie Turek, as well as 250-pound lineman Elias Rodriquez, picked off Noah Falconer passes and ran the ball back for TDs.
Meanwhile, Martens, playing in his first junior football game after transferring from the University of Manitoba Bisons — and expected to be No. 1 quarterback for the Sun this season— managed only three completions for 15 yards on five attempts.
In all, the Sun finished 300 totals yards compared to the Huskers 194.
Up next for the Sun is a meeting with Kamloops Broncos on Saturday in Kamloops, while they’ll play their home opener on Aug. 6 at the Apple Bowl against the Westshore Rebels.
In the other BCFC game on Saturday, the Vancouver Island Raiders defeated Kamloops 37-14.
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