In an action packed game full of numerous turnovers and dazzling performances, the Sacred Heart High School (SHHS) Senior Saints pulled off their first post season win in over two decades, according to SHHS?principal Chad Holinaty.
On one particularly notable play in the fourth quarter, Melville returned a kick-off deep into Saints territory, threatening to score a touchdown when Dakota German made the tackle which caused the ball carrier to fumble the ball which Robert Okeny recovered for Sacred Heart. Not only did the Saints prevent a touchdown, they recovered the ball and took it downfield for a six point major.
Largely because of the five touchdown romps of Saints tailback Preston Liebrecht Sacred Heart staged a 38-13 win on its home field over the visiting Melville Cobras Saturday afternoon.
SHHS led 13-0 after the opening quarter of play. After two quarters, the Cobras closed the gap, cutting the Saints lead 20-13 at the half.
The Saints pulled out all the stops in the second half to lead 28-13 after three and claiming a 36-13 win after four quarters.
Saints tailback Preston Liebrecht proved to be a potent force in the game, scoring five touchdowns.
Liebrecht says he knew Melville would prove to be a tough opponent. "We came out ready to play and we played our hearts out," he declares.
Liebrecht says he wanted to be the guy the team could depend on. "A couple of times they hit me really hard, but I got back up, sucked it up and ran a touchdown," he states.
A Grade 11 student at SHHS, Liebrecht has another year of high school eligibilty and will likely prove to be one of the school's marquee players.
Saints signal caller Johnny Bell says he saw Melville blitzing the A and B gaps. "We thought we could get rid of that by going to the outside and taking away their blitzers," he reports.
Bell says he called Liebrecht's numer regularly in the game, "Because he definitely runs the ball hard every time and we know that every time the ball is in his hands we can count on him to make some big plays."
Bell credits the Saints trainers with the team's success this season. "They gave us the strength, endurance and speed to go out every game and give it our all. Our speed definitely showed today," he suggests.
The Saints will face Maple Creek Saturday in the next round of playoffs.
Senior Saints head coach Trent Senger says the game went according to plan. "We wanted to score early, get the lead and let our defense take over the control of the game and that's exactly what happened," he comments.
Senger admits to some concern about Melville's solid defensive backs. As a result Sacred Heart's air attack wasn't quite what he'd have liked. Instead the Saints relied on their ground game. "They just seemed to run hard and that's what we wanted out of them," he states.
Senger says he won't change a thing for the next round of the playoffs no matter who the team faces. "We're going to go at them as hard as we did Melville and we're going to force them to stop us. If we change too much, we're playing into their hands so we're just going to run right at them." he proposes.
He suggests the Saints have a few tricks up their sleeve they haven't used against Melville which he's saving for a time they're needed.
The coaching staff has come together well this season, Senger reports. The team has added a sports trainer this year to help develop player fitness. As a result the Saints come out hard from the first quarter to the last quarter.
He will be working to have the players look after the little things in preparation for the next game. "Look after the ball. Get the snap. We missed two field goals in the fourth quarter that I'm upset about that's well within our kickers' range and we didn't get tha snap back. Those things we have to fix." Senger maintains.
In response to opposing teams possibly shutting down Liebrecht, Senger notes Liebrecht is listed on Sask. Gridiron as a player to watch. In response to coaches who ask about him, Senger responds, "Stop him if you can. If they stop him, there's something else coming."
Senger thinks there may be possibility for another playoff game at home once SHHS gets by Maple Creek depending how the playoffs go.
