On paper, the is in precisely the same position as it was at the midway mark of the 2016 season害羞草研究所攗nbeaten and standing alone atop the .

But the way the Sun has arrived at its 5-0 start this summer is even more encouraging for head man Ben Macauley and his coaching staff.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檇 say we害羞草研究所檙e ahead of where we were last year,害羞草研究所� said Macauley. 害羞草研究所淟ast season we probably won some games that we maybe shouldn害羞草研究所檛 have. This season, I don害羞草研究所檛 think you could say that, I think we害羞草研究所檝e been deserving of all of them.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 nice to be 5-0 and the good thing is, we still don害羞草研究所檛 feel like we害羞草研究所檝e played our best yet. We害羞草研究所檙e starting over the second half at 0-0.害羞草研究所�

Spearheaded by the defense害羞草研究所攚ith a miserly 50 points allowed in five games害羞草研究所擬acauley said all three areas of the club have stepped their game up significantly from 12 months ago.

Combined with an extra year of football wisdom for the coaching staff, Macauley said the level of play, both mentally and physically, is up all across the board.

害羞草研究所淥ur defense has been really good, week in, week out,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 been huge improvement in our special teams, and even though our offense has had its struggles at times, it害羞草研究所檚 still miles ahead of where it was last year. We害羞草研究所檙e also more experienced as coaches, and we害羞草研究所檙e trying to get better every week.害羞草研究所�

Macauley called the effort of the Sun defense 害羞草研究所渟mothering害羞草研究所� of the Vancouver Island Raiders in Nanaimo.

Macauley pointed to Conor Richard, Shaun Robinson, Eli Haynes (nine tackles) and Cole Klughart (2.5 sacks) for turning in particularly solid efforts on defense.

害羞草研究所淭he Raiders couldn害羞草研究所檛 get anything going, they barely got over midfield,害羞草研究所� Macauley said. 害羞草研究所淥ur defense gave the offense a short field to work with most of the game.害羞草研究所�

Richard and Aldrich Berrios害羞草研究所攚ith his fifth interception in the last two games害羞草研究所攅ach returned picks for touchdowns.

Offensively, Liam Crane caught a pair of touchdown passes from Nick Wenman to lead the attack, as the Sun blew open a 21-11 game early in the fourth quarter with 24 unanswered points.

While he said there害羞草研究所檚 still plenty of fine-tuning to do in the season害羞草研究所檚 second half, Macauley likes the buy-in from his players and their willingness to play for each other.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 really a team mentality, with all 12 guys on the field working towards the same goal,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淭here are always 8, 9, 10 guys around the football, multiple guys making big blocks on offense, and we害羞草研究所檙e getting lots of big plays on special teams.

害羞草研究所淭he guys are buying in and it害羞草研究所檚 really been a group effort. Some guys have been standing out individually for sure, but everybody is getting in on the act. It seems like every game, there害羞草研究所檚 someone different stepping up big for us.害羞草研究所�

With the Sun now into a bye week, Macauley said it害羞草研究所檚 the ideal time to recuperate and reload for the final five games of the regular season.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 really good for us to gave a break, a good chance for the guys to take some time and recharge their batteries for the second half. We害羞草研究所檙e very cognizant about not burning the guys out, so this will be welcome. It also gives us a chance to plan for how we害羞草研究所檙e going to improve every week as the season progresses.害羞草研究所�

The Sun (5-0) sits a game up on Westshore (4-1) and two ahead of VI (3-2) at the midpoint of the season.

Okanagan will return to action Sunday, Sept. 10 against the Raiders. Kick off at the Apple Bowl is 1 p.m.