Okanagan Sun post 50 plus points for the third time this season in blowing out the visiting VI Raiders

Photo: Marissa Baecker-Shoot the Breeze

The Okanagan Sun overcame a sluggish, three turnover start Saturday, rolling over the visiting VI Raiders 58-1 at the Apple Bowl.

But, it all changed with a third down gamble on the opening play of the second quarter.

Leading 7-0 and facing third and two at the Raiders 44, quarterback Dominic Britton, who tossed a pair of picks in the first quarter, hooked up with Noah Bymak, who not only secured the first down, but scampered the rest of the way for a 44-yard touchdown.

The floodgates opened from there.

The Sun found the end zone on three of their next four series to head into halftime with a commanding 35-0 lead.

Two possession after Bymak found the end zone, Britton capped a six-play, 58-year drive with a three yard scamper to go up three scores.

Following a Tyler Turner interception, Britton wasted no time hitting Mike O'Shea with a 40-yard strike on the next play to increase the lead to 28-0.

They closed out the first half scoring a minute later when Britton drove the Sun 46 yards in four plays, capped off with Bymak's second touchdown catch of the quarter from 15 yards out.

Britton, who was a pedestrian three of seven for 25 yards and two interceptions, flipped the switch in the second quarter, completing 12 of 13 for 182 yards and three scores. He also ran the ball four times for 48 yards and a touchdown.

He admitted the Dominic Britton of 12 months ago would have had a hard time coming back from a shaky start.

"There probably would have been a few more after that," he admitted.

"I've worked hard to brush it off because at the end of the day it's only going to bring your game down if it gets in your head.

"I know I have an offence to lead, so it's just up to me to brush that aside and keep going know that they rely on me and trust me."

Britton says he also did a lot of work in the off season to learn to read defences better, allowing him to see the field better than he has in the past.

He says he feels more comfortable in the pocket and is able to read the field better.

"I think maturation is a great way of putting it," says head coach Travis Miller of the play of Britton this year over last.

"He's gone from what we would consider a second year quarterback last season to probably in my mind on if the best players in the country.

"He tries to ensure his teammates are always in position, so he's not just worried about himself but he's worried about all his teammates and making sure they are in the right spot to make the team better."

Britton finished the night early, completing 15 of 22 for 207 yards and three touchdowns.

O'Shea, who returned a punt 79 yards for a touchdown a week ago, did himself one better, fielding a punt on the right hashmark at the 28, then scampering to the wide side before galloping down the left sideline for an 82 yard touchdown return near the end of the third quarter.

After the Raiders conceded a safety, backup quarterback Liam Kroeger directed a six-play, 75-yard drive, culminating in a 14 yard strike to Blaise Beauchemin.

With third string quarterback Avery Clayton directing the offence, reserve running back Aiden Wiberg busted through the line, rumbling 48 yards for the final points of the night on the final play.

Wiberg, who saw action in the fourth quarter, carried seven times for 130 yards and the touchdown.

The only other touchdown came in the opening quarter when Jevon Garwood found daylight on a second-and-one, and burst free for a 45 yard touchdown.

Garwood didn't see the field the rest of the night after taking what Miller said was a helmet to the forearm on the touchdown run.

"It's nothing major, just a precaution," said Miller.

"In the second quarter we were up a few touchdowns and we have three great running backs so it was easy to just give him a break."

Unofficially, the Sun amassed 584 yards of total offence including 321 on the ground.

Conversely, the Raiders were held to just 171, including a mere 18 on the ground.

The Sun also gave Raiders quarterback Ben Chomolok fits all night. They sacked him seven times, including four from Romareo Reid.

When they weren't bringing him down, the defensive front seven was forcing Chomolok to run for his life or throw the ball before he wanted.

The league leading 4-0 Sun will host the expansion Prince George Kodiaks next Saturday at 4 p.m. at the Apple Bowl.

The Kodiaks are 1-3 on the year after getting their inaugural win, a 28-20 victory over the Valley Huskers Saturday.