There wasn't a lot of offensive fireworks for the spectators at Sacred Heart High School who came to watch the Saints take on the Esterhazy Warriors in their Week 3 clash in the East Central 9-Man football conference, but the Halo's fans all left happy after witnessing what was the first win of the season in a 9-6 defensive affair.
Sacred went into halftime up 1-0, but a string of penalties and some power running from the Warriors fullback game the visitor's a 6-1 lead after a failed two point convert. For the Saints it was a similar situation to their home opener defeat to Foam Lake where they couldn't find the answer to the Panthers comeback after leading at halftime. Against Esterhazy the Saints knew they needed a win to avoid going 0-3 and the young Sacred players did not disappoint head coach Trent Senger.
Young running back Nathan Cochrane ran in the game winning touchdown on a sweep play to the sideline to give Sacred a 9-6 lead after Carter Ruff hit the point after attempt. With the lead the defense held their ground and the Saints would leave the field victorious, putting a crucial win up before a road rematch with Foam Lake next week.
"We knew that today was a day where we coulod not afford to lose after being beat by the two best teams in the league in Foam Lake and Melville to start the season and I am extremely proud of the way this young team came out and answered the bell today," says Senger.
Sacred's defense was the key to the Saints victory, allowing a second half touchdown and little else against the Warriors. "We build ourselves around our defense and that showed today," mentions Senger.
Next up will be a rematch with Foam Lake, the top team in the conference, but a team that Sacred put a lead up on at home in their first game of the season. Senger mentions that the toughest challenge when playing Foam Lake is in the trenches. "Foam Lake always has a big offensive and defensive line so our line needs to put an emphasis on wanting to block some pretty big and physical guys and on defense the want to fight and get penetration at the line of scrimmage, if we can do that we can compete with anybody," says Senger.
