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Eagles show major improvements in loss

In a short season you need quick studies.
Foothills Bantam Eagles quarterback Benjamin Leggett gets set to hand off to a teammate in the backfield during the Eagles’ 30-6 loss to the Colts on Sept. 10.
Foothills Bantam Eagles quarterback Benjamin Leggett gets set to hand off to a teammate in the backfield during the Eagles’ 30-6 loss to the Colts on Sept. 10.

In a short season you need quick studies.

Fortunately for the Foothills Eagles they seem to have found the fastest of learners at the most important position with the steadily improving play of quarterback Benjamin Leggett and the team around him through three weeks in the Calgary Bantam Football Association.

“It has been amazing, the growth,” said Eagles head coach Shane Kessel. “For a second year player in his first year as a quarterback, he’s showing really good vision, good decision making skills and he’s a natural athlete.”

Foothills dropped below the .500 mark in a 30-6 loss to the South Calgary Colts in a game which was much closer than the score would indicate on Sept. 10 at Shouldice Park.

The Eagles’ defence held the Colts to just seven points with seconds to play before the half. Colts tailback Max Hansen would turn the game on a dime on a screen pass touchdown from 35 yards out to double the Calgary advantage.

The prolific runningback would add a pair of rushing majors in the second-half to complete a four touchdown performance, taking advantage of the absence of Eagles nose tackle Carson Remus who did not play after the second quarter.

“Defensively we did well,” the coach added. “He’s a big impact player for us and that has us struggling a little bit on the defensive side in making as big of an impact as we usually do.”

It wasn’t just the Colts offence moving the ball after the restart.

The Foothills attack was in sync in quarters three and four as the strong running of Joshua Groome as well as the poised play of Leggett behind centre chewed up major yardage.

Foothills found the end-zone late in the fourth quarter with a mix of pass and run.

First, High River’s Ally Werezak found some room down the right sideline for a 25 yard catch and run. Then on the next play Leggett curled left, turned on the jets and sprinted into the end zone untouched for a 70 yard major.

“Offensively we were moving the ball and just had a little trouble finishing,” Kessel said. “We were able to get one towards the end which is great and something to build upon.”

Werezak, a flag football player with aspirations of high school ball with the boys at Highwood High, has shown well through three weeks.

“She had a real interest in wanting to try tackle football. She did the week long camp that Highwood does and put the pads on,” Kessel said.

“She’s done really well. She has really good speed, great quickness and it’s just developing. It’s a little harder to catch the ball when you have the pads and helmet on than it is in flag. She’s really starting to come around.”

Foothills had won its first game of the season the week prior in outlasting the Calgary Wildcats by a 24-13 mark in what was a top-down sterling showing.

Next up for the Eagles (1-2) is a divisional showdown with the Calgary Stampeders (2-1), a true matinee at 9 a.m. on Sept. 17 at Shouldice Park.

For more information on the Eagles visit gofa.ca


Remy Greer

About the Author: Remy Greer

Remy Greer is the assistant editor and sports reporter for westernwheel.ca and the Western Wheel newspaper. For story tips contact [email protected]
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