Sun host Langley in home opener tonight

Finally, the Okanagan Sun will play in front of their home fans tonight.

Coming off a gruelling four-game road trip (2-1-1) to start the B.C. Football Conference season, the Sun return from the Labour Day bye week to host the Langley Rams (1-3-0) in the back half of a home-and-home set that saw Okanagan squeak out a 21-13 road victory on Aug. 25.

Tonight’s kickoff, at the Apple Bowl in Kelowna, is 7 p.m.

To recap the season to date, the Sun opened with a lopsided 56-6 win in Kamloops over the Broncos (0-3-0) on Aug. 5, then settled for an 18-18 tie in Victoria against the Westshore Rebels (1-1-1) on Aug. 11.

Okanagan’s lone loss was a shocker, 22-18 in Chilliwack to the upstart Valley Huskers (3-1-0) on Aug. 18.

As those scores indicate, there is a fair bit of parity in the BCFC this season — more than usual — and the second half of the schedule should be interesting.

For Okanagan, that means playing five of their final six regular-season games at the friendly confines of the Apple Bowl, also hosting the defending champion Vancouver Island Raiders (3-1-0) of Nanaimo on Sept. 15, Chilliwack on Sept. 22, Kamloops on Oct. 7 and Victoria in the finale on Oct. 13.

Okanagan only has one road game left, Sept. 29 in Nanaimo against the Raiders.

The Sun currently sit alone in third place in the BCFC standings, with five points — trailing Chilliwack and Vancouver Island, with matching records for a conferenceleading six points.

Victoria (three points), Langley (two) and pointless Kamloops round out the six-team circuit.

The top-four teams qualify for the semifinal round of the playoffs, with those winners competing for the Cullen Cup.

The B.C. champion will advance to face the Ontario champion in the national semifinal in late October, with the Prairie champ getting a bye before hosting that victor in the Canadian Bowl on Nov. 10.

The Sun are coached by Ben Macauley, who is in his third season at the helm.