The Estevan Lions Club bantam Oilers suffered a 34-8 road loss to the Swift Current Steelers in the first round of the Moose Jaw Minor Football League playoffs on Saturday.
Paul Duncan, head coach of the Oilers, said the goal heading into the fourth-versus-first game was to try and force the ball downfield using a new package of players on offence during their first possession of the game. He said they pulled some of their bigger and more experienced players from the defence and lined them up on the other side of the ball in an effort to gain some traction only to have the Steelers (6-0) provide a strong pushback of their own.
“The biggest thing is the four-and-a-half hour journey that it is to get there,” said Duncan. “You get those bus legs and you end up starting a little bit behind the eight ball with regards to guys that are at home, refreshed and ready.”
Duncan said they committed a couple of minor mistakes in the first quarter on their snaps and during special teams play, which led to the Steelers jumping out to an early 13-0 lead. He said the kids bounced back a bit in the second half, but overall Swift Current just proved why they finished atop the league during the regular season and played a solid football game.
The Oilers (2-3-1) entered the post-season on a three game undefeated streak racking up a 21-0 win over the Moose Jaw Raiders on Sept. 23, a 13-0 victory against the Weyburn Falcons on Oct. 1 and a 7-7 tie versus the Moose Jaw Razorbacks on Oct. 15.
Duncan said the most points they gave up during a game in the regular season was 23 against the Falcons on Sept. 10, which stands in stark comparison to last season when they were looking at 23-point deficits heading into halftime on most nights. He said that shows this group of athletes have made major strides over their years in Penta Completions Estevan Minor Football.
“I couldn't be any more proud,” he said. “They were outstanding athletes, individuals and young adults and I was blessed to have a team that I did and incredibly happy to have had the opportunity to coach them.”
