A late hit late in the first half of last Saturday害羞草研究所檚 game against the Westshore Rebels sent pivot Jakob Loucks to the sidelines for the duration of the night at Westhills Stadium.
If all goes as planned this week, the hope to see its No. 1 quarterback back on the field Saturday at Exhibition Stadium when the B.C. Football Conference Club takes on the Valley Huskers.
害羞草研究所淜eeping him out in the second half (against the Rebels) was precautionary, we felt there was nothing to gain by forcing him back in and risking further injury,害羞草研究所� head coach Ben Macauley said of Loucks, who played last season with the Mount Allison University Mounties. 害羞草研究所淗e was having trouble with mobility and we wanted to be careful with any symptoms he might be having.
害羞草研究所淲e think he害羞草研究所檒l be OK, we害羞草研究所檒l watch him closely this week,害羞草研究所� added Macauley, 害羞草研究所渂ut with seven games still to go in the season we didn害羞草研究所檛 want to take any unnecessary chances if we don害羞草研究所檛 have to.害羞草研究所�
Whether Loucks starts or rests in favour of backup Matthew Mahler, the Sun isn害羞草研究所檛 certain which version of the Valley Huskers they will encounter Saturday害羞草研究所攖he one that upset the Vancouver Island Raiders 33-31 on opening night; or the one that was soundly drubbed last week (42-9) at home to the Langley Rams.
Regardless, Ben Macauley said his club will be taking nothing for granted.
害羞草研究所淭he (Huskers) are potentially a physical team, they definitely have some playmakers, and (coach) Bob Reist has done an excellent job with their program. They probably aren害羞草研究所檛 where they害羞草研究所檇 like to be but we can害羞草研究所檛 take anyone lightly. We have to give them the full package and play them like we害羞草研究所檇 play any team. We expect a hard fought game.害羞草研究所�
Last Saturday night in Victoria, with Loucks sidelined and Mahler at the controls in the second half, the Sun (1-0-1) went on to settle for an 18-18 draw with the hometown Rebels (1-0-1).
Down by one point with just six seconds to play, Okanagan could have just as easily departed the island with a victory, but Isaac Wegner害羞草研究所檚 field goal attempt from 21 yards away sailed wide.
A win on the road against one of the BCFC害羞草研究所檚 top clubs would have been preferable, but Macauley said the Sun can use the missed opportunity as motivation going forward.
害羞草研究所淲e try to see it as a positive, but it did feel more like a loss for us than anything, so we can use this to keep us hungry,害羞草研究所� said Macauley. 害羞草研究所淚 think what it reinforced was that we害羞草研究所檙e an even-keeled team. We got down in the last part of the game and Tye Kitzman made a great play to get the block and get the ball for us.
害羞草研究所淎t no point did we feel like hanging our heads. It says a lot about our team害羞草研究所檚 resolve害羞草研究所t was good to be challenged early in the season.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所� Okanagan Sun (@okanagan_sun)
Macauley said the Sun still has 害羞草研究所渁 lot of work to do offensively害羞草研究所� but on the upside, the club害羞草研究所檚 defense continues to live up to all expectations.
The Sun has yielded just 24 points in two games this season, with half of those points coming on turnovers by the offense.
害羞草研究所淭hey害羞草研究所檙e an impressive group,害羞草研究所� Macauley said of the Sun defense. 害羞草研究所淲e have playmakers and all-stars at every position group. They put a lot of pressure on quarterbacks and they can be very opportunistic.害羞草研究所�
Kick off Saturday at Exhibition Stadium between the Sun and Huskers is 7 p.m.
Okanagan害羞草研究所檚 home opener is Saturday, Sept. 8 at the Apple Bowl against the Langley Rams.
Dheilly player of week害羞草研究所�
The announces the Week 2 Players of the Week, now VOTE to make one of them the Fans Choice Player of the Week, polls open now.
害羞草研究所� CJFL News (@CJFLnews)
Sun defensive lineman Nick Dheilly is the BCFC害羞草研究所檚 special teams player of the week.
The former University of Regina Rams star had four sacks, two tackles and one assisted tackle in Saturday害羞草研究所檚 18-18 tie with the hometown Westshore Rebels.
害羞草研究所淗e has incredible speed and awareness,害羞草研究所� Ben Macauley said of Dheilly. 害羞草研究所淓verybody害羞草研究所檚 when he gets on the field, to see what害羞草研究所檚 going to happen.害羞草研究所�
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