Badgers claw their way back

By Mario Prusina, Times Editor

The Strathmore Badgers peewee football team found themselves down 13-0 at halftime to an undefeated Red Deer Steelers team on Oct. 20.
Despite the large deficit, the Badgers stormed back in the second half en route to a 22-13 win, clinching the last spot in the tier 1 playoffs.
“In the second half our offence started clicking, we started connecting on more throws,” said Head Coach Doug Thiessen. “We passed for a lot of yards this game – I would guess over 150 yards of passing. We got two safeties on them and then we scored three touchdowns.
“Once we started catching, they (Steelers) had to change their defence, which then opened up the running game. They were playing us like ‘go ahead and throw, go ahead and throw, go ahead and throw;’ so when we started throwing they had to change stuff. I don’t think we threw five incomplete passes this game – when we threw it our guys caught it.”
The Badgers will now square off against the top-ranked Lacombe Explosion in the tier 1 playoffs this weekend.
“(Our) mindset is let’s go out there, let’s have fun and let’s try to win,” said Thiessen. “They did really well in the regular season and if we play like we did in the second half and we keep connecting on our passes, we can probably beat them because it’s the same challenge – they have to change their defence if we start being able to really throw against them.
“It now is win or you’re out. The most games we could possibly have – if we can beat Lacombe – (and) win the next game, then we could go to provincials. Tier 1 is the only one that gets to go to provincials, so we have a shot… but we have to go through some pretty good teams to get there.”
Lacombe enters the game with a 6-0 record and has yet to give up any points, outscoring their opposition 267-0. The Badgers, who finished the regular season with a respectable 3-2-1 record, are looking to make history.
“It will be a challenge,” said Thiessen, “but that’s why we play games, because even the best team can be beaten.”
Meanwhile, the Strathmore Badgers bantam team defeated Springbank on Oct. 20, improving their record to 4-1 on the season.
The Badgers, who finished second in the south division, are eyeing a successful run in the playoffs, beginning this weekend.
The locals will travel to Red Deer to take on the undefeated north division champs Notre Dame on Oct. 27.
The Strathmore Badgers midget team will host the Carstairs Tigers on Oct. 27 (10 a.m.) at the Crowther Memorial Junior High School field.
The winner of that contest – which is the league semifinal – will travel to face Innisfail in the league final on Nov. 3.