A look at the play-off push

The first half of the BCFC season is now in the rear view mirror with 5 of the 7 clubs having played 6 games, while two (Rebels & Huskers) have played five to date.

If scores are a reasonable assessment of what we may expect in terms of which 4 teams qualify for the play-offs it is a reasonable assumption that the Okanagan Sun, Langley Rams and Westshore Rebels will battle for the 1-3 slots while the remaining 4 teams will be fighting it out for the 4th and final play-off berth.

THE FIGHT FOR FOURTH:

The Valley Huskers (2-3) have a leg up on the Broncos, Raiders & Kodiaks as they are the only club of the group that has only played 5 games. 3 of the clubs remaining games are against the Kodiaks, Huskers & Raiders while the other 2 are rematches against the Rams & Sun, both clubs they dropped games to earlier in the season. The Huskers have the Kodiaks & Broncos up the next 2 weeks so the possibility to have the play-offs all but wrapped up with three weeks to play is there.

The PG Kodiaks have dropped 5 straight after a season opening win over the VI Raiders, with 2 of those losses coming against the Huskers & Broncos. Still, with 2 games left against the Broncos, and one tilt against the Huskers to go along with a home game against the Okanagan Sun the Kodiaks will be thinking they have 3 winnable games ahead of them. Winning those three games likely gives the club it’s first ever play-off berth.

The Kamloops Broncos also control their play-off destiny with all 4 remaining games coming against the Huskers and Raiders before back to back games against the Kodiaks. Kamloops has this week off before hosting the Valley Huskers SEP 15 in a game that will likely determine if the rest of their schedule is a play-off fight or confidence building for 2025.

The VI Raiders are the club most “up against it” with 4 games to play as two of those games coming against island rival Westshore Rebels. The Raiders gave both the Sun and Rams a fight earlier in the season but dropped big scores of 52-14 and 40-0 to the Rebels and Rams respectively the past two weeks. A home win this weekend against the Rebels means everything.

THE FIGHT FOR FIRST:

One thing the undefeated Okanagan Sun (6-0), 5-1 Langley Rams and 4-1 Westshore Rebels can all agree on is none of them want any part of second or third place as all indications are that game would be a toss-up to see what team advances to the Cullen Cup. While the first place team never wants to look past an opponent, the reward for first place is real this season.

The Okanagan Sun obviously control their own destiny and the showdown this weekend in Langley will be worth the price of admission. The Sun came back from a 13-0 deficit to beat the Rams 22-15 at the Apple Bowl in week one so the Rams are looking for payback. A Sun win would likely stop any Ram first place hopes while a Langley win turns everything upside down on the home stretch.

The Langley Rams defence has been dominant, leading the conference in points against, rushing yards against and passing yards against. That said, the last 5 wins have come against the 4 teams fighting for 4th place while the next 4 up are VS Sun, @ Rebels, @ Huskers and then home to the Rebels.

The Westshore Rebels sit 4-1 after collapsing in the 4th quarter and giving up 17 points to the Sun in a 33-30 home loss back on AUG 10. While the Rebels are likely still kicking themselves for letting that game get away, a return match at the Apple Bowl SEP 21 means they don’t have to make up much ground only having to win by 4 to take the home and home series. The remaining 4 Rebel games are two each against their island rival Raiders and the Langley Rams. Rebel fans have a lot to look forward to in the next 5 weeks.

One thing we know for sure is that the BCFC championship goes through the Apple Bowl.

Or Starlight Stadium.

Or Mcleod Athletic Park.