Bow Valley scored two late touchdowns, but the Bobcats’ comeback ultimately fell short, during the team’s 20-14 home loss to the George McDougall Mustangs, Oct. 15.
Mustangs’ running back Josh Duazo ran in for three first half touchdowns, while Jacob Neil and Spencer Gordon countered late for Bow Valley. Regardless of the final outcome, Bobcats’ head coach Scott Allard still praised his team’s comeback attempt.
“It shows that a lot of them were able to take what we talked to them about at halftime and implement it,” he said. “It was nice to see, but it was unfortunate we didn’t wake up until the fourth quarter.”
“We went into halftime up 20-0, then put some of our backups in to get everyone in and have some fun,” said Mustangs’ head coach Brent Legault. “It ended on a positive note and it lets our kids know that they can play the way we know they can.”
Duazo got all three touchdowns in the first half, with two in the first quarter and one in the second to provide George Mac with an insurmountable cushion.
“The blocking was phenomenal,” Legault said. “Our receivers have been doing a great job all year and today they proved that. The O-line did a great job too.”
But it was Bow Valley that came out strong in the second half looking to make a statement. After Mustangs’ linebacker Cory Robinson had what appeared to be a clean interception called back on a penalty, the Bobcats’ Jacob Neil was able to run the next play six yards into the end zone. Bow Valley successfully recovered the ensuing onside kick, but was unable to drive the ball.
“(Neil) has been running the ball a little bit more and getting more confidence – and that’s been evident in what he’s been doing,” Allard said.
Mustangs’ quarterback Jordan Groves then threw an interception to Spencer Gordon, with only 20 seconds left in the game, who returned it 100 yards for a touchdown. The onside kick was unsuccessful as Mustangs’ receiver Brandon Isfeld was able to secure the ball and the win.
Bow Valley hosted Cochrane in a Rocky View Sports Association league game on Oct. 21, while George Mac hosted the Chestermere Cowboys in an RVSA Tier 2 semifinal on Oct. 22. Both games were after the Rocky View Weekly went to press.
“We just focus on the essentials,” Allard said. “Go in, run the ball, catch the ball, block them – things like that. We’re just looking to play our game and not really worry too much what we need to for Cochrane. They’re a highly skilled team.
“Looks like we’ve got Chestermere next week, so we’ll ready because that was a hell of a game against them last time – 19-19 (Oct. 6),” Legault said. “If we can play our whole game like we played the fourth quarter against them, then it will be a lot of fun for us. Our guys need to come ready to play: every single down, every single play.”
