It may not have been pretty, but the Cochrane Lions Bantam football team has its first win of the season.
Quarterback Kelton Beach had two one-yard touchdown runs to help propel the Lions to a second half 24-14 comeback over the Calgary Broncos, at Shouldice Park, Sept. 11. The win moves the Lions to 1W-2L in the Calgary Bantam Football League.
Head coach Pat Coyle said he was impressed with his team’s overall effort, but hopes his players can maintain a more consistent 60-minute performance in upcoming games.
“We fell behind and things seemed to fall into how we played in the first couple games,” he said. “But we made a few adjustments and we were able to shut them down. Everything started to click on offence and defence. We caused plenty of two-and-outs when they had the ball and we began to move the ball effectively when we had it.”
The Lions opened the scoring early in the first quarter after a 40-yard kickoff return setup a 30-yard touchdown run on the next play.
“It started off really quick for us,” Coyle said. “It was something we hadn’t had work to our advantage in the first two games, so this was a new scenario and gave us a little confidence boost. We established some momentum early and played well, but kind of lagged in the second quarter.”
The Broncos then scored two touchdowns in the second quarter to take a 14-8 lead into the half. But Coyle made some halftime adjustments.
Beach scored his first touchdown early in the second half, which the Lions two-point converted, to put Cochrane up 16-14. The defence then held the Broncos to minimal offensive gains, before the Lions quarterback put the game away midway through the fourth quarter with his second touchdown run.
“We were able to stop them a few times and then marched down in the fourth quarter and scored another touchdown, on another one-yard dive by our quarterback,” Coyle said.
The Lions’ next game is against the Calgary Cowboys Sept. 17, a day earlier than previously scheduled, at Shouldice Park. Game time is 7:30 p.m.
“They’re a good team and they have an exceptional quarterback this year,” Coyle said. “He’s a dual-threat and he likes to take off with the ball, so our defence will be tested. Offence-wise, we’ll just have to continue what we did this weekend and I think we will be alright.”
