On paper, the is in precisely the same position as it was at the midway mark of the 2016 season香蕉视频直播攗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.
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檇 say we香蕉视频直播檙e ahead of where we were last year,香蕉视频直播� said Macauley. 香蕉视频直播淟ast season we probably won some games that we maybe shouldn香蕉视频直播檛 have. This season, I don香蕉视频直播檛 think you could say that, I think we香蕉视频直播檝e been deserving of all of them.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 nice to be 5-0 and the good thing is, we still don香蕉视频直播檛 feel like we香蕉视频直播檝e played our best yet. We香蕉视频直播檙e starting over the second half at 0-0.香蕉视频直播�
Spearheaded by the defense香蕉视频直播攚ith a miserly 50 points allowed in five games香蕉视频直播擬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.
香蕉视频直播淥ur defense has been really good, week in, week out,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 been huge improvement in our special teams, and even though our offense has had its struggles at times, it香蕉视频直播檚 still miles ahead of where it was last year. We香蕉视频直播檙e also more experienced as coaches, and we香蕉视频直播檙e trying to get better every week.香蕉视频直播�
Macauley called the effort of the Sun defense 香蕉视频直播渟mothering香蕉视频直播� 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.
香蕉视频直播淭he Raiders couldn香蕉视频直播檛 get anything going, they barely got over midfield,香蕉视频直播� Macauley said. 香蕉视频直播淥ur defense gave the offense a short field to work with most of the game.香蕉视频直播�
Richard and Aldrich Berrios香蕉视频直播攚ith his fifth interception in the last two games香蕉视频直播攅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香蕉视频直播檚 still plenty of fine-tuning to do in the season香蕉视频直播檚 second half, Macauley likes the buy-in from his players and their willingness to play for each other.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 really a team mentality, with all 12 guys on the field working towards the same goal,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淭here are always 8, 9, 10 guys around the football, multiple guys making big blocks on offense, and we香蕉视频直播檙e getting lots of big plays on special teams.
香蕉视频直播淭he guys are buying in and it香蕉视频直播檚 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香蕉视频直播檚 someone different stepping up big for us.香蕉视频直播�
With the Sun now into a bye week, Macauley said it香蕉视频直播檚 the ideal time to recuperate and reload for the final five games of the regular season.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 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香蕉视频直播檙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香蕉视频直播檙e going to improve every week as the season progresses.香蕉视频直播�
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.
