Sun set to face improved Huskers in Chilliwack today

The Okanagan Sun ared used to beating up on the Chilliwack-based Valley Huskers.

That trend could continue tonight — in a 7 p.m. kickoff at Exhibition Stadium in Chilliwack — but the Huskers (1-1-0) have already pulled off one upset through two weeks of the B.C. Football Conference season, shocking the defending playoff champion Vancouver Island Raiders by rallying for a 33-31 victory in Week 1.

The Huskers, who are playing their third straight home game to start the season, followed up that surprising result with a resounded defeat, 42-9, at the hands of the Langley Rams in Week 2. This, after going winless (0-10-0) last season to bring up the rear in the BCFC standings for 2017.

The Sun (1-0-1) are in the midst of four in a row on the road to start their 2018 campaign — Okanagan’s home opener isn’t until Sept. 8 against Langley at the Apple Bowl in Kelowna — but all historical signs suggest a blowout is in store tonight.

Okanagan routed the Huskers 71-7 at home and 42-3 in Chilliwack last season en route to a second-place finish with a 8-1-1 record.

This year, the Sun opened with a lopsided 56-6 win over the Kamloops Broncos before settling for an 18-18 tie in Victoria against the rival and defending regular-season champion Westshore Rebels. Okanagan had a chance to win but missed a field goal that went for a single on the final play of the game.

The Sun close out this gruelling road stretch next Saturday, Aug. 25, in Langley before playing a home-heavy schedule throughout the second half.

The standings are tight through two weeks, with Okanagan and Westshore tied on top with three points, while Vancouver Island, Langley and Chilliwack all have two points. Kamloops is sitting last, with no points and an 0-2 record, after getting blanked 42-0 by the Raiders in Week 2.

Today’s Week 3 schedule also has Langley visiting Vancouver Island in Nanaimo, while Kamloops will host Westshore.