Peewee Badgers overthrow Steelers

Tyler Lowey
Times Reporter

 

It looked like the Red Deer Steelers were going to punch it in and break the tie, but a goal line stand by the Strathmore Community Football Association peewee Badgers defensive unit slammed the door.
The Badgers prevailed 28-6 Saturday afternoon at Crowther Memorial Junior High School Field.
The turning point was definitely the strong pushback from the Badgers’ front line.
“That was a big stop,” said Badgers’ head coach Doug Thiessen. “Everyone started playing a little bit harder after that.”
After the two teams traded rushing touchdowns in the first half, the game was locked up 6-6 into the third quarter. The Steelers were marching down the field looking to score, when an unnecessary roughness penalty was called on the Badgers, putting the ball on the one-yard line.
The Steelers had three cracks at the end zone, but on each attempt, the defensive line broke through, tackling the ball handler in the backfield, pushing them further and further from the goal line.
Eventually, the Badgers took over after a turnover on downs at their own 15-yard line.
On the Badgers first play of the drive, the ball was snapped fortuitously over the quarterback’s head and into the arms of running back Dawson Jensen. He took off down the field, shedding tacklers left and right, being brought down deep in Steelers territory.
“We talked to them at half time and calmed them down,” said Thiessen. “We were making mistakes and playing a little nervous. It was the first game for a lot of our guys.”
To finish off the game-changing drive, Jensen carried several Steelers on his back as he got within goal-to-go distance. The Badgers promptly punched it in with a quarterback sneak and converted the point after attempt.
“They did an excellent job after that. We completed a lot more passes and our running game took off as well. They came through in spades after that drive,” said Thiessen.
Up next, the peewee Badgers host the Red Deer Hornets on Sept. 17 (10:30 a.m.).

 

Bantam Badgers
Unfortunately for the bantam Badgers, they didn’t get a chance this weekend to muster up any game-winning drives or defensive stands.
The Innisfail Cyclones dropped out of the bantam division, resulting in a bye for the Badgers on the weekend. The Badgers will host Rocky Mountain House in their season opener in Strathmore on Sept. 17 (1 p.m.).

 

Senior Badgers
The senior Badgers are off to a smoking hot start following their first two games of the campaign, outscoring their opponents 89-14.
The Badgers cooked the Sundre Bisons 26-14 on Sept. 3 in Sundre and blasted the Bowden Blazers 63-0 last Sept. 8 in Bowden.
“It was a good game and we are off to a good start, but there are still plenty of things to work on,” said Badgers’ head coach Sean Seafoot. “We had a short week in between the two games so we couldn’t really put any new plays in, all we did was try and work on some things. We have a bigger break before our next game so we are going to try and put in some new formations.”
Badgers’ quarterback Reid Jensen recorded five touchdowns over the Blazers.
Waiting for the Badgers are the Innisfail Cyclones, two-time champions and loaded with a big roster.
So long as the Badgers clean their game up a little bit and dispose of the penalties that have cancelled out touchdowns in the past, Seafoot likes their chances on Sept. 17 (3:30 p.m.).