The Springbank Phoenix’s season came to an end, Nov. 5, after they were defeated by the Holy Trinity Academy Knights 10-7 in the regional qualifying game in Okotoks.
The Phoenix were fresh off a win in the Rocky View Sports Association’s (RVSA) Tier II final against the George McDougall Mustangs on Oct. 29, but head coach Tony Lucas was looking for an improvement from his players heading into the game against Holy Trinity.
“We just needed to be better,” said Lucas. “We didn’t have a particularly good game (against George Mac). It’s good that we won that game, but we needed to be more focused and we needed to be better.”
Like the game against the Mustangs, the contest against Holy Trinity was a defensive battle. Defence had been one of the Phoenix’s greatest strengths all season, but the difference came from the Knights’ star running back, Ryder Stone, who burned the Phoenix and scored a touchdown on a punt return.
Despite playing in different divisions, familiarity with their opponent, or a lack thereof, wasn’t a factor for either team.
“We played exhibition against Holy Trinity earlier in the season, and they hammered us 40-2,” said Lucas. “It helped our guys focus, but I spoke to their coach after the game and he said (the exhibition game) didn’t help their preparation. They came to watch our game against George Mac and weren’t overly impressed. It helped us and hurt them.”
A win against the Knights and a trip to the regional semifinals would’ve been the cherry on top of an excellent season. The team was just happy to win the RVSA title.
“We’re very happy with the season,” said Lucas. “We were able to do the same thing we did last year. Two years in a row means a lot. Once we were able to do that, anything after that was extra.
“We asked (the boys) to do everything they could. We were the underdogs and in a no-lose position anyways.”
The Bow Valley Bobcats and the Cochrane Cobras both advanced to their respective regional semifinals.
The Cobras will take on the Winston Churchill Bulldogs from Lethbridge in one of the Tier III semifinals in Cochrane on Nov. 12 at 1 p.m. The Bobcats will take on the St. Timothy’s Thunder from Cochrane in one of the Tier IV regional semifinals at Shouldice Park’s Hellard Field on Nov. 12 at 10 a.m.
