Spartans crush Mustangs

Tyler Lowey
Times Reporter

 

The only significant time the Highwood High School Mustangs spent inside the Strathmore High School Spartans’ territory was when the teams switched sides after each quarter.
The Spartans crumpled the Mustangs 43-6 in an out-of-conference football game at Strathmore High School Field on Sept. 9.
“There were some real positive signs Friday,” said Spartans’ head coach Travis Gorski. “We were very physical even though we were a smaller team. We were assertive and hit them hard.”
The Spartans headed into the second quarter up 13-0 after senior quarterback Isaac Wegner connected with wide out Pierston Khanapace on a 60-yard catch and run touchdown.
“It felt good out there today,” said Wegner. “We felt good going in and there were things we worked on this week that worked out in the game.”
One of the items Wegner claimed to be working on at practice was playing with a more heads-up style. Clearly something clicked, as he threw for over 190 yards and two touchdowns, only playing in the first half.
His favourite target was fellow senior Isaiah Simwamu, who hauled in two touchdowns and ran for another.
“We’ve played together since bantam. It’s pretty easy out there if you have chemistry with someone, knowing you can throw the ball up there and he’s going to be there to catch it,” said Wegner.
In the second quarter, with the Spartans up 27-0, Gorski pulled his defence aside and reminded them about the game plan.
“We went over their responsibilities, reminded them to rally to the ball and tackle as a team,” said Gorski.
Those words stuck to defensive back Nathan Cayouette; on the next defensive series, he took to the skies, diving backwards to haul in an interception near mid-field as his bench erupted once the play was blown dead.
Once the game was firmly in the Spartans’ grasp, Gorski took the opportunity to sub in some of his younger players with hopes of developing his own program.
While this was an out-of-conference game, the Spartans will get down to business in the Rangeland Football Conference this Friday when they head to Medicine Hat to take on the Mohawks.
“This was a motivating and encouraging win for us. This win will get us going for the next game,” said Wegner.
Loaded with seven seniors on the squad, Gorski has turned the reins over to his players and likes the way the team has been run early on.
“I’ve seen a lot of leadership out of these guys so far. They have made strides from where they were last year and progressed and now they are leading us,” said Gorski, who teaches math at Strathmore High School.