A horrible third quarter was the Kamloops Broncos’ downfall in a B.C. Football Conference loss in Kelowna on Saturday.
The Broncos lost 42-18 to the Okanagan Sun at the Apple Bowl. Kamloops now is 1-6 on the season, while Okanagan is 2-5 and in sole possession of the BCFC’s final playoff spot.
The Broncos likely will have to win all three of their remaining games to have any chance at the playoffs. Kamloops will play host to the Chilliwack Huskers on Sunday, 4 p.m., before welcoming the Westshore Rebels on Oct. 6 and playing the Huskers in Chilliwack on Oct. 13.
In Kelowna, Kamloops allowed 27 third-quarter points after turning the ball over three times. What had been a close game — 15-5 at the half — turned into a laugher. Kamloops managed to score 13 points in the fourth quarter, with Mike McMaster finding the end zone from 26 yards and Steve Schuweiler hitting Kevin Lee on a three-yard pass.
Four of Okanagan’s six touchdowns came on the ground — Alex Bradley had two of them, including a 30-yarder, with Robert Giorno and Adam Hohmann getting the others. Cam Bedore hit Ben White on a touchdown pass and Sheldon McDonald returned an interception 63 yards for a touchdown.
Adam Nesbitt had two interceptions for the Broncos, with Shayne Arthurs and Ben Groenewegen recovering fumbles.
The Broncos ran for 95 yards, 56 of them coming from Wes Black, and they also picked up 173 yards through the air. Connor Whitelaw, the reigning offensive player of the week, went 6-for-21 for 74 yards and four interceptions. Schuweiler was 6-for-8 for 99 yards and the touchdown to Lee.
Aaron Smit made a 20-yard field goal for Kamloops.
In Saturday’s other BCFC games, the Rebels defeated the host Huskers 33-3, and the Vancouver Island Raiders beat the host Langley Rams 41-29.
The results leave the Raiders (6-0-1) in first place in the BCFC, with Westshore (6-1) second and Langley (5-1-1) third. Okanagan and Kamloops are fourth and fifth, with Chilliwack (0-7) last.
