For the second time in five games, the Estevan Sherritt Coal Miners held their opponents off the board for most of the game but went on to lose.
The Miners went down to defeat 6-0 against the Weyburn Ravens on Sunday in Regina Minor Football atom play at Dana Quewezance Memorial Field.
Weyburn scored the only touchdown of the game just shy of the halfway point of the fourth quarter.
"Like the old quote goes, I feel we never lost that game, we just ran out of time," said Miners head coach Wanda Harron. "Of course, I'm partial to my team, but the way both Weyburn and Estevan played, there really was no loser in this game.I really wish it would have ended in a tie."
The Miners fell to 1-4 on the year, while the Ravens improved to the same record.
"Defensively, from our team, I don't think we coaches could have asked for much more than what those kids gave.It was tackling by committee, swarming the ball carrier with two or three kids on almost every one. When it came to kids tackling on their own, it was textbook,kids taking a stand, breaking down and wrapping.No one-armed tackles at all," Harron said. "For kids at the atom age to tackle like this, it's pretty incredible."
The highlights for the Miners' defence included a big stop early on, with Weyburn at their 20-yard-line, as well as a fumble recovery by Boden Dukart.
Although it was a strong day defensively, Estevan's offence didn't get a lot going.
"We're coming so close to breaking it. We're still missing that one key block or two on the outside.That's all it is," said Harron. "I know we have the talent there at both blocking and carrying the ball. We've gone over it in practice lots, but I don't know if the kids just get too excited or what when it comes to the game situation."
The coaching staff made a few changes on offence on Sunday, moving Kyler Dutka from the offensive line to make him a lead blocker and sometimes the ball carrier up the middle.
"That helped us gain some good yards.We tried a few passing plays.Late in the game we completed a longer pass, which was good to see," Harron said.
Despite the loss, Harron said she is proud of her team.
"This team has been very competitive in all the games it's played this season.And we've seen so much improvement. We just need to learn how to win."
The Miners have just one regular season game left, that coming Saturday when they visit the Regina Alouettes.
