Senior Badgers can’t find offense while peewees win close battle

By Brady Grove, Times Reporter

The Strathmore Community Football Association (SCFA) senior Badgers were beaten 19-0 by the Innisfail Cyclones on Oct. 6 at Crowther Memorial Junior High School (CMJHS), in a game in which they just couldn’t seem to put any points on the board.
Both teams had opportunities, but the Cyclones converted on their chances while the Badges came up short.
“Defense did really well; they held us in the game for most of the game,” said senior Badgers Head Coach Sean Seafoot. “We just needed to start scoring in the second half.”
The Badgers only trailed by a single touchdown heading into the second half so the game was wide open. But an intercepted pass five minutes into the third quarter turned into a touchdown against the Badgers. Afterwards the team generated some good plays to get within striking distance but couldn’t complete the drive for a touchdown.
“We played really disciplined ball and we executed everything that we worked on in practice and everything just came out on top for us,” said Cyclones defensive coordinator Kerry Sawicki.
The best chance of the game for the Badgers came at the last minute of play when first-time quarterback Ridley Maverick took the snap and searched for a pass but couldn’t find one. Maverick rushed 40 yards before being brought down by multiple Cyclone players. On the next play he again looked for a receiver before bolting towards the end zone with Cyclones defenders hot on his tail. He would have scored had there not been a penalty on the play, forcing the Badgers to try again.
“We gave it our all and I tried my best to run. I’m kind of sad that touchdown got called back but we got them next week,” said Maverick.
Revenge will be on the senior Badgers minds as they travel to Lacombe on Oct. 13 for a rematch.
The SCFA peewee Badgers picked up a narrow 7-6 win against the Rocky Mountain House Jr Rebels in a war of attrition between the two young clubs, on Oct. 6 at CMJHS.
“I mean, when you win 7-6 it’s a defensive battle.” said peewee Badgers Head Coach Doug Thiessen. “Both defences, because I play two of them, played lights out.”
Both sides pushed back and forth in the first quarter with neither side’s defense surrendering any points. Eventually Badgers quarterback Dylan Elliott found receiver Logan Van Sickle at the 30-yard line who ran it in the first touchdown of the game and the lead.
“Our quarterback Dylan was going to pass to either me or the slot back, so Dylan chose me and I caught it,” said Van Sickle. “Mason, one of my blockers, had saved me from getting smashed by a guy.”
The Badgers would convert, grabbing the extra point for a 7-0 lead. The Rebels had a huge chance to win the game when they scored a touchdown with just under two minutes remaining. Rebels Head Coach Gary Maxwell had a choice to make to go for the tie on the conversion or kick it for the win.
The Rebels snapped the ball and went for the kick but didn’t get the height they needed as the Badgers blocked it to preserve the single point lead.
“If we make the kick we go home winners,” said Maxwell, citing how strong their defense was. “The game came down to a couple of plays.”
The peewee Badgers look to carry their winning ways into the next week as they hit the road to face the Red Deer Hornets on Oct. 13.
The SCFA bantam Badgers had a bye week. They’ll host Rocky Mountain House at CMJHS on Oct. 13 at 1 p.m.