Facing considerably stronger competition than in their previous two games, the Stettler Cougars rose to the challenge at home last Saturday and posted a 53-28 victory over the Notre Dame Junior Cougars of Red Deer.
It was Stettler’s third win in as many Central Alberta Football League bantam games this season.
The hometown Cougars scored touchdowns on their first five possessions, but had trouble stopping the equally strong Notre Dame offence.
The visiting Cougars scored on the last play of the first half to keep the score close, as Stettler took a three-point lead (31-28) into the break.
But the second half was an entirely different story. Stettler’s offence continued to produce on long runs — but Notre Dame was shut out in the final half.
Teron Garbutt, Will McDonald and Keegan St. Denis each scored multiple touchdowns for the unbeaten Cougars.
The fleet-footed Garbutt ran for three majors, while St. Denis and McDonald each had a couple of touchdowns.
Cooper Smyth of Stettler had the big play of the game, with an 85-yard pass reception for a touchdown,
Johannes Smith scored a pair of touchdowns for the Red Deer visitors.
This weekend, Stettler travels to Lacombe on Saturday night for a first-place battle.
The Cougars are back home in Stettler for an Oct. 5 game against the Lindsay Thurber Junior Raiders of Red Deer.
Meanwhile, the Stettler Panthers — the provincial Tier 4 peewee champions last season — stage their home-opener Saturday against the Lacombe Explosion. The Panthers, who scored shutout wins in their two games, had a bye last weekend.