The Estevan Sherritt Coal Miners kicked off Saturday's Football Day in Estevan on a high note, but it was all downhill from there for the atom club.
Kade Bachorcik's early touchdown was the high water mark for the Miners (0-4) in a 60-6 loss to the Regina Cardinals.
On the team's second possession of the game, Bachorcik scored on a 65-yard sweep, the same way he had reached the end zone a week earlier.
"Same play, same way, he did the same thing. He took it to the house, outran the angles on everybody and took it right to the end zone," said Evan Helfrick, who has been promoted from associate coach to head coach.
The Miners trailed 36-6 at the half.
Helfrick said a lack of focus was the biggest thing working against his team following a week of practice where not much got done due to school starting.
"Even from the start of the game, even though we scored a touchdown, the kids' focus wasn't there. They weren't really blocking. Just a lapse altogether," he said.
"Blocking is the big thing. On our offensive plays, we're not blocking well enough and our running back can't break four or five tackles. He's gotta get some blocking help from his guys. We'll have to work on that this week," said Helfrick.
He added that finishing plays off defensively is also a priority.
"The pursuit angles are really (good), they're getting out there, now they just gotta learn to make the tackle, make the play or wait for someone to come help them make the play together."
Consistency is an issue for the Miners and Helfrick said it's tough to maintain at the atom level, with most of the players being new to football.
"Last week our team played phenomenal, one of the best games I've seen from that age group," he said. "Then you come into this week thinking you're all fired up and ready to do the same kind of thing, and you've got a totally different team out there."
Following the game, former Saskatchewan Roughriders Don Narcisse and Scott Schultz spoke, and Penta Completions Estevan Minor Football announced that it will be moving back to the Dana Quewezance Memorial Field for next season.
Narcisse and Schultz were on hand throughout the day's four games for autographs and pictures.
The Miners' next game is Saturday in Regina against the Alouettes.
