The Big Rock Bengals are 2-0 for the first time in team history.
Big Rock won its second straight game to start the Calgary and Area Midget Football Association season against the Calgary Stampeders by a score of 17-11 on April 7 at Shouldice Park.
“It was a tight game and I knew it would be. Our guys stuck with it right until the end and believed in our game plan,” said head coach Bruce Marlow. “We got to move the ball around to a couple new guys because of injuries.”
The team was off to a shaky and slow start with several penalties and only getting a field goal and a safety point in the first half. The Stampeders scored a field goal in the first half and a touchdown with two extra points in the middle of the third quarter, leading the Bengals 11-4.
Runningback Jude Oh ran 20 yards to get the Bengals’ first touchdown tying the game at 11-11 near the end of the third quarter, but the team missed the extra point.
The Bengals got their second touchdown late in the fourth quarter when cornerback Seth Nelson intercepted a pass and took it from midfield to the one-yard line. On the next play David Bowers punched it in for a touchdown. Big Rock again missed the extra point resulting in a score of 17-11. Nelson was injured on the play and had to sit out for the next few plays before eventually returning.
Two potential touchdowns scored by Blake Klotz and Jude Oh were called back due to penalties.
“We played really good, considering we have a few less players than them,” said Oh. “In the first half we struggled, but we executed in the second half.”
Three key players of the game were safety Seth Nelson, Spencer Kessel and Blake Klotz.
Kessel got hurt late in the second quarter and had to sit out for the second half.
Nelson had several sacks in the game and was a significant part of the success on the team.
“Defence came through for us tonight, they play with their heart every single game in and game out, I love the heart we have and we play with heart all year,” said defensive coach Rock Marlow. “I told them at halftime to maintain your gap and we win this game.”
Klotz had several key plays in the game with 5 catches for close to 40 yards and several runs for over 40 yards.
With a slow start but the game tied going into the fourth quarter, head coach Marlow told his team to settle down and play with a smart head.
“My expectations are that they are going play like they always play,” the head coach said. “They’re going to play hard, do their best to win the game, and expect to win every game.”
The Bengals are only in their third season as a team and have close to 20 players in Grade 9.
“It always makes a big difference having so many young guys on the team, the Bantam Eagles have had a successful program for years now, they make a serious impact on the Bantam league,” Marlow added. “And to have those kids the next step up and play Midget, you get older and it’s just football and these kids tonight played football.”
The Big Rock Bengals play Marlow’s old team, the Calgary Colts, on Thursday April 14 at Shouldice Park.
For more information on the team go to bigrockbengals.com
