Here we go again, the Okanagan Sun and St. Clair Saints meet on the national stage for the second straight season and third time in four years, this time for the CJFL National Semi-Final.
They met in 2022 in this very game with the Sun earning a 42-24 victory in Windsor en route to capture the Canadian Bowl. Then last season, again in Windsor, the Saints returned the favour with a 37-22 win to capture their first national title since 1999. One could consider Saturday’s game in Kelowna, the rubber match with the winner advancing to the 2025 Canadian Bowl.
Both teams come into the ballgame undefeated. The defending champion Saints stream rolled through the Ontario Conference outscoring opponents 66-9 along the way. In the playoffs they were tested in the semifinal but beat the newly expanded Sault Ste. Marie Cougars, before shutting out the Hamilton Hurricanes in the Ontario final for their fourth straight Teddy Morris Trophy.
The Sun won the right to host this game by going through the 10-game BC Conference regular season unblemished, then swept through their two playoff games beating the VI Raiders and Westshore Rebels.
This game should come down to the defensive side of the ball. Both offences are extremely talented with several different weapons and threats to choose from, so which defence will be able to make a stop or two? The Saints feature All-Stars Jaylin Burnett and Chris Rivero on the line, Mo Ibraheem at the linebacker position and Brandon Vecchio in the secondary, while the Sun can counter with JaQuintis Summers, Jarveon Williams and their combined 24 sacks up front, Phil Palmarin at linebacker and ballhawk Tariq Brown on the backend.
During the regular season the Saints kept teams under 10 points on average and earned the shutout during the Ontario final, but that game was shortened due to lightning. The Sun defence also kept the opposition under 10 during the regular campaign and averaged 19 points allowed in the two playoff games.
If the defences can’t slow down the offences, fans could be in for a good old-fashioned shootout at the Apple Bowl. The Saints scored 66 points a game in the regular season and love to throw the ball with All-Star quarterback Matthew Guenette and his record setting 35 touchdown passes. He has a flurry of receivers at his disposal but his “go-to” guy is Cameron St. Kitts-Park who turned in a fantastic season of 56 receptions, 760 yards and nine touchdowns. First-year Saint Marselio Mendez was also an impact receiver making 30 catches for 611 yards and 11 majors.
On the ground All-Star running back MJ Doyle-Marshall can chew up yards in a hurry and is difficult to bring down with his 215-pound frame. He rushed for 640 yards on 82 carries this year with nine touchdowns.
The Sun offensive numbers are similar to the Saints scoring over 52-points a game. Quarterback Liam Kroeger is coming off his best game of the season after throwing for 2860 yards and 26 touchdowns. He threw for two and ran for two touchdowns in the first half of the Cullen Cup last weekend alone.
He has a solid group of receivers at the ready with the likes of Jordayne Falconer and Seth Famakinde who both hauled in majors last weekend. All-Star running back Gerren Hardisty is a power runner with speed and like Doyle-Marshall doesn’t go down
very easily. He is one of three CJFL running backs to hit the 1000-yard plateau this year and came back to junior football this season to be in this very game.
The offensive lines on both sides could be the difference markers giving their quarterback time to throw the ball while blowing open holes for the running backs. They are loaded with experience and All-Stars but will have their hands full with the speed and power coming from the defensive lines and blitzing linebackers.
In every game field position is obviously important and this game features All-Star return specialists on both sides with Mendez and Falconer who have the ability to break one to the house every single time they touch the ball. Falconer returned three punts for touchdowns this year while Mendez had a pair. Speaking of Special Teams, both Liam Attwood and Joe Newton-Grain have a strong right leg in the kicking game and can put points on the board when a drive stalls.
Bottom line, this game will be fun to watch and an instant classic as these two showcase so many talented players. The winner will advance to the 2025 Canadian Bowl on November 9th and visit either Regina or Saskatoon for the 117th national championship.
