Tye Kitzman had the kind of 2017 campaign that turned the heads of his junior football peers害羞草研究所攐pponents and teammates alike.
The 21-year-old Vernon product was an ominous and constant presence in the defensive secondary, delivering punishing hits, while making a league-leading six interceptions.
The end result for Kitzman was a unanimous nod as a B.C. Football Conference all-star, followed by all-Canadian recognition.
Still, following a loss to the Westshore Rebels last October, Kitzman害羞草研究所檚 resume was missing the most important entry of all害羞草研究所攁 Canadian championship.
A new chapter begins
害羞草研究所� Okanagan Sun (@okanagan_sun)
With the talent and depth the Sun coaching staff assembled during an aggressive off-season of recruiting, the 6-foot-2, 195-pound Kitzman likes the club害羞草研究所檚 prospects of challenging for a national title in 2018.
害羞草研究所淚 think this is one of the best, if not the best team we害羞草研究所檝e had since I害羞草研究所檝e been here,害羞草研究所� said Kitzman, the fourth-year defensive back who made 37 tackles last season, second best on the Sun. 害羞草研究所淲e have a lot of good young guys, some new guys with experience coming in, and really good group of veterans. Everybody害羞草研究所檚 excited to get going and start our run at a Canadian championship.害羞草研究所�
Kitzman and the Sun will kick off their quest for a national crown this Sunday in Kamloops against the Broncos.
It害羞草研究所檚 the first of four straight road games to open the BCFC regular season, due to renovations to the track at the Apple Bowl.
The Sun won害羞草研究所檛 play its first home game until Sept. 8 and while it害羞草研究所檚 a long wait for the team害羞草研究所檚 players and fans, Kitzman thinks it just might work in the club害羞草研究所檚 favour.
害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 nothing we can do about the schedule, so we need to deal with it the best we can,害羞草研究所� said Kitzman. 害羞草研究所淭here are pros and cons, we won害羞草研究所檛 have the home crowd for a while害羞草研究所ut if we can build up some wins early, we害羞草研究所檒l have five of our last six games at home, heading into the playoffs. That could be an advantage for us.害羞草研究所�
As for the composition of this year害羞草研究所檚 club, head coach Ben Macauley said the Sun possesses depth all across the board, particularly in the trenches where both the offensive and defensive lines are loaded with grit and skill.
Still, as good as the Sun looks on paper and in practise, Macauley said the real test begins Sunday in Kamloops and in the subsequent weeks to follow.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 been a long offseason, we害羞草研究所檝e made a lot of key personnel decisions, and put together a team we really like, so now it害羞草研究所檚 time to test ourselves,害羞草研究所� said Macauley. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 not a finished piece of work. There害羞草研究所檚 pressure for guys to step up now and do as expected, but we also expect to see some surprises, players who have been waiting for their turn to play big roles to step up.害羞草研究所�
The Sun and Broncos will kick off the BCFC regular season Sunday at 4 p.m. at Hillside Stadium in Kamloops.
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