Single points can often make the difference in Canadian football.
The Chestermere Cowboys and George McDougall Mustangs know that first hand, after the two teams battled to 19-19 tie in Rocky View Sports Association league action at Genesis Place field in Airdrie, Oct. 6.
The Cowboys (0-3-1) and Mustangs (1-1-1) had varying reactions following the game, however. Chestermere gave up a 18-6 halftime lead, while George McDougall fought back in the second half to go up 19-18, only to allow a rouge – and the eventual tie – in the final minute.
“We showed resilience and came back, drove the ball at the end of the game and if we had two more minutes, we’d probably have won the game,” said Cowboys’ head coach Brian Utley. “But we got the single and we’re proud of our effort. We’ve come a long way in the past month. We’re heading in the right direction and we’re looking forward to another league game (Oct. 14 at home to Bert Church, when the new stadium lights will officially be unveiled) and the playoffs.”
“Down 18-6, with not much working for us, it was good to see our guys kind of buckle down and really push for it,” said Mustangs’ head coach Brent Legault. “It shows huge character.”
The Mustangs opened the scoring with two minutes left in the first quarter, when Grade 10 running back Josh Duazo ran in for a five-yard major. George Mac seemed to gather momentum when Grade 12 standout Cory Robinson intercepted a Cowboys’ pass.
But on Chestermere’s next possession, Brad Taubert broke for a 76-yard touchdown run on a third down quarterback sneak that seemed to surprise the Mustangs.
Moments later, on George Mac’s next possession, Taubert intercepted quarterback Jordan Groves’ pass and returned it 60 yards for the major. Both two-point converts failed, but the Cowboys were able to take a 18-6 lead into the half.
“We fully expected to go into the half 6-6, then all of a sudden Chestermere did a great job and scored two quick touchdowns on us,” Legault said.
The Mustangs’ offence awoke in the fourth quarter, when Duazo took a pitch from Groves, broke to the outside, and ran 50 yards into the end zone. George Mac missed the extra point, but Duazo ran a 33-yard touchdown up the middle with 5:51 remaining.
The Mustangs made the extra point and went up 19-18.
Chestermere got the ball back, marched up the field and kicked a single point through the endzone on third down, with less than a minute to go.
“It was unfortunate we let them score two touchdowns against the wind,” Utley said, referring to the inclement north wind. “We had the fourth quarter with the wind and thought we could dominate, but that’s high school football. It was a big game because us, Bert Church and McDougall are kind of fighting for that second, third and fourth spot. We let one slip away against Bow Valley, and we kind of let this one slip away a little bit too, but I think it will be a good learning experience for us.”
“At halftime, we just had a very brief discussion – and the guys rallied,” Legault said. “We came out ready to play ball and held them to the one point, which tied the game. That rouge got us again (referencing last year’s Tier 2 final where Springbank used a kick through the end zone to earn a single point, and the win, in triple overtime).”
George Mac will next play at Bow Valley on Oct. 15 at noon, while Chestermere will host Bert Church on Oct. 14 at 6 p.m.
