Injuries stall peewee Badgers in opener
By Tyler Lowey, Times Reporter
Tyler Lowey Photo
For the better part of a month of training camp, it has been Tanner Phillips and Dylan Elliot taking the reps under centre, but both exited the season opener with injuries. Unable to conjure up another score in the second half, the Badgers walked away with a 12-12 tie Aug. 8 against the Stettler Panthers at Crowther Memorial Junior High School (CMJHS) field.
“We weren’t planning on giving those other kids a chance at quarterback until later this week during our bye, but injuries forced them in and they didn’t have enough time in practice to learn the offence,” said Badgers Head Coach Doug Thiessen.
Phillips was behind the wheel for the early success. His defence forced a fumble on the opening drive by the Panthers and marched down the field with a steady run game and put up an early six points.
The Badgers produced six more points off another turnover when Hunter Corbin strip sacked the Panthers play caller and recovered the ball on their 35-yard line.
The next play from scrimmage, Phillips took the snap and ran up the gut 35 yards to pay dirt and a 12-0 lead.
The Panthers started to chew up the clock and orchestrated a six-minute drive. The defence bent and didn’t break, as they shut them down in the red zone with three minutes remaining in the first half.
Phillips opened the second half with a 65-yard scamper to the house, but it got called back for a holding penalty.
That holding penalty turned out to be the biggest turning point on the afternoon, as two plays later, he got sacked and had to exit the game with an injury to his right knee.
Thiessen’s defence stepped up again in the absence of their quarterback, as they thwarted another red zone attack from the Panthers.
The defence couldn’t keep the Panthers out all day, as after a two-and-out, the Panthers had the ball back and were driving in the red zone.
This time, Braden O’Connor broke a couple tackles and dove into the end zone.
“Our defence was pretty good today. We had them stopped for the most part, but we missed a couple tackles in the back field that cost us,” said Thiessen.
With Phillips and Elliot out of the game in the second half, the Badgers struggled to string first downs together, which allowed the Panthers to strike.
O’Connor took the ball and used a stiff arm to turn the corner and ran 17 yards to the house. The Panthers went for the two-point convert and the lead, but fumbled the snap.
Thiessen’s crew had a chance to pick up the victory late, but their drive stalled out on the Panthers’ 20 when his fourth quarterback of the day fumbled a snap with 18 seconds on the clock.
“We could have won with our starters in, but I haven’t given these other kids enough reps at practice. We will be fine. We will score more and play better defence as the year goes on,” said Thiessen.
The Badgers are off this weekend and will resume CPFL action next week.
The senior Badgers were the only SCFA program not in action last weekend, as their Mountain View Football Conference bye week came early. They will get their season underway this weekend in Sundre against the Bisons.
New bantam Head Coach Greg Zaugg was ready to hunt down his first Central Football League win this weekend in Springbank, but the Phoenix didn’t have enough players to suit up, so the game was rescheduled to Oct. 20 in Springbank.
“It was an unfortunate way to start the season. We had a great camp and the boys were ready to go, but we will have to wait one week now,” said Zaugg.
The Badgers home opener against the Drumheller Titans was relocated to Drumheller. Their next home game is slated for Sept. 22, when they host the Olds Bulldogs at CMJHS Field. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m.