The Stettler Cougars are undefeated after two games in the Central Alberta Football League bantam division.
In their home-opener last Saturday, the Cougars blanked the Ponoka Junior Broncs 53-0 in the inaugural game for the new Ponoka club.
A week earlier, Stettler sidelined the Hunting Hills Junior Lightning 68-14 in Red Deer.
“We have had a good start to the year,” said Cougars coach Ernie Shirreff. “We were expecting to win against Hunting Hills and Ponoka, because they both have young squads, and it is Ponoka’s first year playing in the Central Alberta Football League.”
The Cougars have a bye this Saturday, and face the Notre Dame Junior Cougars of Red Deer on Sept. 21 at 2:15 p.m. in Stettler.
“That game will be a lot harder for us,” Shirreff said of the coming Cougars-versus-Cougars battle.
In last weekend’s game against Ponoka, five Stettler players combined for eight touchdowns. Will McDonald, Teron Garbutt and Nevada Bauer each scored two touchdowns, while Cooper Smyth and quarterback Jordan Lane had one each.
“Our team has many returning players, which helps make up the solid defence and a really good offensive line,” Shirreff said. “Edward Kim has played solid on defence, while Teron Garbutt, Nevada Bauer and Will McDonald have been contributing to our good running game.”
The Cougars led 33-0 at halftime against a short-staffed Ponoka team. Intermittent rain fell during the afternoon.
Winning debut for peewee Panthers
Meanwhile, the defending provincial champion Stettler Panthers kicked off their peewee season last Saturday with a 59-0 victory at Rocky Mountain House.
The Panthers are back on the road this Saturday when they visit the Sylvan Lake Bears. Beginning on Sept. 28 against the Lacombe Explosion, Stettler plays at home on three straight weekends through Oct. 12.