On paper, the is in precisely the same position as it was at the midway mark of the 2016 season91裸聊视频攗nbeaten and standing alone atop the .

But the way the Sun has arrived at its 5-0 start this summer is even more encouraging for head man Ben Macauley and his coaching staff.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檇 say we91裸聊视频檙e ahead of where we were last year,91裸聊视频� said Macauley. 91裸聊视频淟ast season we probably won some games that we maybe shouldn91裸聊视频檛 have. This season, I don91裸聊视频檛 think you could say that, I think we91裸聊视频檝e been deserving of all of them.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 nice to be 5-0 and the good thing is, we still don91裸聊视频檛 feel like we91裸聊视频檝e played our best yet. We91裸聊视频檙e starting over the second half at 0-0.91裸聊视频�

Spearheaded by the defense91裸聊视频攚ith a miserly 50 points allowed in five games91裸聊视频擬acauley said all three areas of the club have stepped their game up significantly from 12 months ago.

Combined with an extra year of football wisdom for the coaching staff, Macauley said the level of play, both mentally and physically, is up all across the board.

91裸聊视频淥ur defense has been really good, week in, week out,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 been huge improvement in our special teams, and even though our offense has had its struggles at times, it91裸聊视频檚 still miles ahead of where it was last year. We91裸聊视频檙e also more experienced as coaches, and we91裸聊视频檙e trying to get better every week.91裸聊视频�

Macauley called the effort of the Sun defense 91裸聊视频渟mothering91裸聊视频� of the Vancouver Island Raiders in Nanaimo.

Macauley pointed to Conor Richard, Shaun Robinson, Eli Haynes (nine tackles) and Cole Klughart (2.5 sacks) for turning in particularly solid efforts on defense.

91裸聊视频淭he Raiders couldn91裸聊视频檛 get anything going, they barely got over midfield,91裸聊视频� Macauley said. 91裸聊视频淥ur defense gave the offense a short field to work with most of the game.91裸聊视频�

Richard and Aldrich Berrios91裸聊视频攚ith his fifth interception in the last two games91裸聊视频攅ach returned picks for touchdowns.

Offensively, Liam Crane caught a pair of touchdown passes from Nick Wenman to lead the attack, as the Sun blew open a 21-11 game early in the fourth quarter with 24 unanswered points.

While he said there91裸聊视频檚 still plenty of fine-tuning to do in the season91裸聊视频檚 second half, Macauley likes the buy-in from his players and their willingness to play for each other.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 really a team mentality, with all 12 guys on the field working towards the same goal,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淭here are always 8, 9, 10 guys around the football, multiple guys making big blocks on offense, and we91裸聊视频檙e getting lots of big plays on special teams.

91裸聊视频淭he guys are buying in and it91裸聊视频檚 really been a group effort. Some guys have been standing out individually for sure, but everybody is getting in on the act. It seems like every game, there91裸聊视频檚 someone different stepping up big for us.91裸聊视频�

With the Sun now into a bye week, Macauley said it91裸聊视频檚 the ideal time to recuperate and reload for the final five games of the regular season.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 really good for us to gave a break, a good chance for the guys to take some time and recharge their batteries for the second half. We91裸聊视频檙e very cognizant about not burning the guys out, so this will be welcome. It also gives us a chance to plan for how we91裸聊视频檙e going to improve every week as the season progresses.91裸聊视频�

The Sun (5-0) sits a game up on Westshore (4-1) and two ahead of VI (3-2) at the midpoint of the season.

Okanagan will return to action Sunday, Sept. 10 against the Raiders. Kick off at the Apple Bowl is 1 p.m.