There were both teary eyes and cheers of victory in Stettler’s football scene last weekend as the bantam Cougars captured Tier III championship after winning 6-4 over Hunting Hills of Red Deer in an away game while the peewee Panthers lost to visiting Spartans of Strathmore 27-24 in home a game they could well have won.
According to the account of the game in Red Deer as given by Cougars’ head coach Mike Roach, the Cougars could not sustain drives on their first two possessions but their defense shut down the Hunting Hills offense on their first two possessions as well.
“The Cougar offense came to life on their third possession when Austin Peterson broke a 26-yard run. Jordan McCallum had an eight-yard run and then Stephen Zuk hooked up with Austin Peterson on a 14-yard pass completion to score a touchdown,” said Roach. The convert attempt failed and Stettler led 6 - 0.
“Hunting Hills looked like they would match Stettler’s score after a huge 31 yard pass completion, but two plays later Nicholas Baharally recovered a fumble to prevent a score.”
The first half ended Stettler 6 - Hunting Hills 0.
“The second half was a defensive struggle. In the third quarter Stettler managed only one first down. Hunting Hills mounted a good drive and seemed to be on the verge of scoring, but Stephen Zuk picked off a pass to give the ball back to the Cougars,” Roach said.
Hunting Hill Lightning scored their first points when the Cougars were forced to give up a safety. They led 6 - 2.
The Cougars kicked the ball back to the Lightning and the Lightning got into scoring position again. The defense held but the Cougar offense was stopped deep in their own end again, so they gave up a second safety. Now the score was 6 - 4.
With less than a minute left the Lightning tried desperately to get into scoring position but once again the Cougar defense held. The final score was Stettler 6 - Hunting Hills 4.
The Cougars now advance to a provincial semi-final against the Calgary Colts in Calgary on Saturday, Nov. 13. The winner of that game will host a provincial championship game on Nov. 20.
The peewee Panthers for their part just had to see an 18-point lead melt away through the second half of the game with the Tier IV championship slipping from the hands of the local boys to visiting Strathmore.
It was not even a minute into the game when Russel Steen scored his first touchdown in the 40th second. Then Tim Gardner added another one, followed by one more by Steen, the Pamthers were in a 18-0 comfortably leading position as the middle point of the second period was passed.
But it was at that time that the Panthers started to leave some holes open in their defense and the blocking of the offense also started to become shaky.
With their slippery and bullet-fast player Ethan Monaghan, the Spartans exploited the weaknesses in the Panthers defense to quickly score one touchdown before the end of the second period.
When the third period began, Strathmore’s Austin Wasit also started his dashing sprints, leaving the Panthers defense in confusion.
Spartans kept up increasing the pace of the game and scored three more touchdowns, with two successful convert attempts, one of them bringing two points.
The Panthers responded with another touchdown to make the score 27-24 for the visiting side as the clock ticked down to the last minute.
In the last minute, two first downs by the Panthers failed to create enough momentum for a touchdown and the Spartans won the game and the Tier IV championship.
Panthers’ head coach Gary Sorenson said he was proud with all his players despite the outcome.
“We are definitely not disappointed in the kids. Over the last three four weeks, they have come on really, really well and have become a lot more skilled in what they are doing,” said Sorenson.
“They found a weakness and we could not seem to stop the bleeding there,” he said referring to the second half of the game.
Sorenson said although this season was a good build-up period for panthers, which players would return to play next year would be decisive in the shaping up next year’s team.
The other team still competing for a provincial title, Wm. E Hay’s Wildcats will be hosting Cold Lake at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 13.
This will be the first ever post-season game between the two teams.