The V.I. Raiders were burned by the Okanagan Sun this weekend in the Interior.
Nanaimo's Canadian Junior Football League team suffered a 38-0 shutout loss to Okie at Kelowna's Apple Bowl on Saturday night.
The Sun had a fast start, taking a 31-0 lead into halftime, and the Raiders couldn't get much going offensively.
Okie used a multi-faceted run attack to gouge the V.I. defence, with seven different rushers combining for 257 yards on 30 carries.
Kasey Russell scored two short rushing touchdowns, Dillon Fortune and Kory Nagata also scored rushing majors and Jesse Kendall had a 24-yard TD reception from Cam Bedore.
Raiders quarterback Liam O'Brien was 13-for-22 passing for 145 yards, with Marshall Cook making five catches for 58 yards. O'Brien was V.I.'s top rushing threat, carrying the ball seven times for 44 yards.
The Raiders hurt their cause with penalties, as they were flagged 15 times for 162 yards compared to the Sun, who took seven penalties for 40 yards.
Defensively for Vancouver Island, Ash Gayat and Fabian Ross had six tackles apiece and Daniel Dubinski had an interception. For Okanagan, Jean Ventose had five tackles, Lucas Machado and Jonas Gering had sacks and Brennan Van Nistelrooy recovered a fumble.
GAME ON … The teams play a rematch on Saturday (Aug. 16) at 4 p.m. at Nanaimo's Caledonia Park.
sports@nanaimobulletin.com