The Estevan Comprehensive School Elecs football team proved to their future first round playoff opponent last Thursday that they will be a tough team to get past.
The Elecs lost 49-20 to the Moose Jaw Central Cyclones Thursday at Dana Quewezance Memorial Field in a preview of the Moose Jaw High Schools Athletic Association Football League quarterfinals that will be played at Central this Saturday. Despite the heavy score against, the Elecs (0-5) kept up with the Cyclones (4-1) through the first 24 minutes before a strong Moose Jaw run attack finally prevailed.
“The game was really a tale of two halves,” said Elecs head coach Mark Schott. “The first half we showed we can play right with them and the second half, I don’t know if they were a bit down on our end or maybe they stepped up things on their end, but they forced a couple turnovers at key times and that took some of the momentum away from us.”
Cyclones defensive back Levi Kelly got Moose Jaw on the board 6:34 into the game when he picked up a fumble and rambled 20 yards into the end zone before he kicked the convert to put the away side up 7-0. Moose Jaw running back Zach Hagerman scored their second touchdown of the first quarter when he ran the ball in from the Elecs’ 27-yard line with no time left on the clock.
Estevan responded 2:55 into the second quarter. Elecs quarterback Andrew Kehler launched a pass from the Weyburn 40-yard line to receiver Donny Mortenson to bring the score to 14-6. A little over a minute-and-a-half later defensive back Thomas Wakely picked up a fumble and ran the ball 46 yards for the score. After a two-point convert courtesy of a Carter Davenport run, the Elecs and Cyclones were tied at 14 apiece.
Schott said the Elecs’ coaching staff noticed the Cyclones defensive backs gave a lot of cushion and with their outside speed on their receiving core decided to open things up through the air. He said the other thing that helped them out was they were having success running the ball, so Moose Jaw had to stack the box putting some pressure on their defensive line and linebackers, which also opened things up for a pass assault.
Cyclone’s running back Hagerman went back to work after the two Elecs’ scores and put two more up on the board himself during the second quarter, before Estevan running back Levi Pick responded with a one-yard punch in with 31 seconds left for a 28-20 score at half-time. Estevan failed to reach the end zone in the second half, while Hagerman, receiver Joel Litt-Jukes and running back Aidan Baillie all scored for Moose Jaw.
“It’s a feel-out game to see where they’re at as a team and to see where we’re at as a team,” said Cylcones head coach Colin Belsher. “The tempo wasn’t where we wanted it to be, but when you’re faced with adversity like that you have to find a way to get through it and I thought the boys did really well.”
Belsher said they used their running attack during the game because that is what the Elecs’ defence was giving them, but they are very confident in quarterback Ryan Reidy and their receiving core as well. He said they like their chances this Saturday, but who knows come playoff time.
“If a couple balls bounce their way and a couple calls go their way and we don’t play the game we need to play anything is possible,” he said. “Playoffs are tough. You lose and your season is done, so we’re going to come out with everything we possibly can.”
Schott said they will be making some personnel and defensive system adjustments this Saturday to limit the opposition’s running game. He said they’ll also work on tackling, wrapping up and taking the proper angles on the ball carrier heading into the game to further prepare for the rematch.
“We showed that we can put up points and we showed that we can make stops against them,” said Schott. “We just have to do it consistently.”
