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Sun block Rams’ victory attempt

Okanagan scores game’s final 14 points to defeat Langley 34-17 at McLeod Athletic Park
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Langley Rams receiver Khalik Johnson turns the corner against Okanagan Sun’s Aldrich Berrios during Saturday’s BC Junior Football League clash at McLeod Athletic Park. Despite nine catches for 136 yards and one touchdown from Johnson, the Rams fell 34-17. Dan Ferguson Langley Times

No game will ever go perfectly, from start to finish.

But how a team responds when things don’t go their way, is key to their success.

“I think we played hard for three-and-a-half quarters, but then we gave up a big play and I think we lost a lot of momentum,” admitted Langley Rams head coach Khari Joseph.

“There is going to be adversity in games … it took up three, four plays to respond after a big play (and) we lost that game in the last six minutes.”

“For me, that just tells me we have to be mentally tougher in those moments,” he added.

The Rams trailed the Okanagan Sun 20-17 but gave up a pair of touchdowns in the final six minutes to lose 34-17 in BC Junior Football League action on Saturday at McLeod Athletic Park.

The Sun improved to 3-0 while Langley fell to 1-2.

“It was a tough one to lose; I felt like we were going to win, the way the game was going in the second half,” Joseph said. “I felt we started to get traction and we were moving the ball and the defence stiffened up.”

The Rams led 3-0 after one quarter thanks to Wayne Palmer’s 36-yard field goal.

The Sun scored 17 straight points in the second quarter before Colby Peters found Khalik Johnson in the end zone just before the half.

After Okanagan made it 20-10 with a third-quarter field goal, Nathan Lund found the end zone to make it a three-point game going into the fourth quarter.

Despite the loss, Joseph liked much of what he saw from his team.

The offence found traction with 130 yards rushing and another 246 through the air. More than half of that came from nine catches and 136 yards from Johnson.

“He is a playmaker so anytime we can get him the ball, he can make things happen,” Joseph said, “His big play ability along with running the football, I think that can be a formula for success.

After missing last week, Colby Peters returned under centre and was 18-for-30 for 213 yards, with one touchdown and one interception.

The Rams offence was hurt by turnovers as they had two interceptions, fumbled twice and had two punts blocked.

Another positive was the fact they cut their penalties down to eight for 41 yards, but six came in the second half, including an objectionable conduct penalty, which the coach called unacceptable.

Langley’s defence allowed 307 yards of net offence, but nearly a quarter of that came on one play, a 74-yard reception.

Okanagan’s Kelton Kouri rushed for a pair of touchdowns while Nick Wenman had one rushing score.

Kyler Mosley caught a touchdown pass from Wenman for the other Sun major.

Kyle Clarot came up with an interception to go along with four tackles. Adam Marchetti had three tackles and two assisted tackles.

The Rams travel to Victoria this weekend to face the Westshore Rebels (2-1)

“I feel like we are on the right track,” Joseph said. “It is not a race, it is a marathon. As long as we are hitting on all cylinders in the middle of the season, we will be fine.”

sports@langleytimes.com

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Langley Rams receiver Khalik Johnson hauls in a touchdown pass against the defence of Okanagan Sun’s Connor Richard during Saturday’s BC Junior Football League clash at McLeod Athletic Park. Despite nine catches for 136 yards and one touchdown from Johnson, the Rams fell 34-17 to the visiting Sun. Dan Ferguson Langley Times