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| SPORTS - October 27, 2009 |
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Tobias Romaniuk/Westlock News
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Moving on
Thunderbirds' quarterback Chad Rottier is dragged down by a Lac La Biche player during the team's 15-14 Friday night win. Rottier scored the winning touchdown for the T-Birds with one minute left on the clock. The club will now face Bonnyville on Oct. 31 in the Wheatland Football League consolation semifinal. |
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Late TD lifts T-Birds to win
Club stuns Lac La Biche 15-14 to move on to league consolation semifinal |
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Allendria Brunjes
News Staff
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It was a game fit for the history books.
The R. F. Staples T-Birds battled the Lac La Biche Huskies last Friday in a game for the ages. After four tough-fought quarters, Westlock posted a tight 15-14 victory with a last minute TD.
Playing in the Wheatland Football League's consolation round, the win means Westlock will be heading to the consolation semifinal set for this coming Saturday. The club plays in Bonnyville on Halloween at 1 p.m.
During the regular season, Lac La Biche beat Westlock 12-7 in a game that edged the T-Birds out of a playoff spot.
With that in mind, Westlock went into this game with something to prove - and prove it they did.
"It was so exciting," said T-Birds head coach Jack Adkins, pointing out the up-and-down score and the last-minute touchdown that gave Westlock the win.
"The defence was just incredible, and the offence came through when they had to. There just couldn't be a better-written story for Westlock."
Lac La Biche scored first on a run, and completed a two-point conversion to take an 8-0 lead.
Next, the T-Birds fumbled the ball on a punt return. The Huskies grabbed the ball, but Westlock's defence stopped them from scoring.
Again, deep in Westlock's end, the T-Birds fumbled the ball and Lac La Biche scored to take a 14-0 lead.
Down, but not out, Westlock's Tyler Massner scored a touchdown, making it 14-6 at the half.
The second half brought about a defensive battle that saw the teams trade punches.
"We had good field position," said Adkins. "We held them back to the point that they went to punt and decided to give us a safety, and that made it 14-8."
He added that it wasn't until the last couple of minutes that things heated up.
Westlock had the ball and marched it down to the 15-yard line. Chad Rottier went for a little run and got the touchdown, tying the game with just 1:08 left.
A convert scored by Luke Young gave Westlock the lead for the first time.
"The boys were very excited, but as coaches we had to stay clam," he said. "There was still a minute and eight seconds left, and Lac La Biche had the ball. So we had to ground them."
Adkins said Lac La Biche took the ball around their 20-yard line, but incomplete passes and on three straight downs meant Westlock got the ball back.
"You can't describe how the guys were," he said. "They were all in it, and when it gets to be that close everyone's on their toes."
Adkins said offensive co-ordinator Jon Kramer called a great game that kept LLB off balance. A
"He called a really good game," he said. "We used some of those new plays that Lac La Biche didn't see, and they worked."
Adkins also said the fans have been great all year long. He said the club is looking forward to this weekend's tilt in Bonnyville.
"It's amazing how this community has embraced football," he said. "We have the biggest crowds that we've seen in the league ... It's been quite a success story." |
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