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Wildcats overcome Wetaskiwin, play Sylvan Lake in championship game

Wildcats displayed great prowess as they defeated Wetaskiwin Sabres 42-20, scoring six touchdowns with subsequent converts in their...
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Wildcats players Ty McCann and Tanner Mimnagh tackle opponent Wetaskiwin player in the semi-final game on Friday afternoon

Wildcats displayed great prowess as they defeated Wetaskiwin Sabres 42-20, scoring six touchdowns with subsequent converts in their semi-final game on Friday, Oct. 28.

Stettler's Teron Garbutt touched the end zone thrice, Mitchell Gudgeon ran it down twice, with Alex Leblanc scoring a single touchdown, with Steele Nichols making the six successful converts.

Head Coach Norbert Baharally thought that his team played "a very solid game" on the offensive as well as the defensive side of the ball.

"I was really pleased with our overall effort as a team. It is always a little nerve racking going into the playoffs and playing a team that you have already beaten in the regular season because it is a different season and if you lose, your team is finished," Baharally said. "Fortunately for us we were able to beat Wetaskiwn and advance on to the Rural Conference League Championship game."

Coach Guy Neitz, who is also the offensive coordinator said, "Our offence had a great game especially in the first half of the game. Our young offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage and allowed our rookie QB Carson Neitz lots of time to find open receivers for 124 passing yards and three TDs."

Teron Garbutt came good once again, gaining 221 yards on 11 carries and three of the touchdowns.

With Wildcats preparing for the championship game, Baharally said, "Sylvan Lake has had our number the last couple of years. We faced them last year in the same scenario and they came out on top as the league champions."

The Stettler camp hopes that this year the result will be different in the league championship game, and thinks it is possible if the Wildcats play error-free football for the 48 minutes.

"Our guys are good enough to beat Sylvan Lake but we are going to have to ensure we make no mistakes for 48 minutes," Baharally added. "Sylvan is a very well disciplined and coached team and we likewise have to play a very disciplined game, avoiding unnecessary penalties."

Coach Guy Neitz said the team is looking forward to the final game and feels that Stettler deserved a better outcome than the one-point loss to Sylvan in the regular season game in their previous encounter.

"We controlled many aspects of that game but multiple injuries including our starting QB Jordan Lane and our starting slot backs were a setback that we responded very well to by moving the ball and scoring to even up the score in the third quarter," Neitz added.

Stettler is looking to square up last year's loss this Saturday, Nov. 5 as they take on Sylvan in an away game at 2 p.m.