A make or break contest brought the best out of the Holy Trinity Academy Knights.
The Knights responded from a pair of lopsided divisional losses to come from behind and eke out a 16-10 result over the defending provincial silver medallists Medicine Hat Mohawks in a statement tilt Friday in Okotoks.
“After we really ripped the team last week I think they got it. We had everyone at practice, everyone working hard and that was the result,” said Knights head coach Matt Hassett. “The coaching staff really thought this was a turning point in our season. This was going to be either good or bad.”
More former than latter for the win-hungry hosts.
After Medicine Hat jumped out to a 2-0 advantage on a safety when punter Grayson Dyck was tackled in the end-zone on a botched snap, the Knights’ special teams took over after giving one away.
Freshman speedster David Bowers put the hosts in front on a 70-yard punt-return touchdown.
The slotback cut right to left, found the outside edge and sprinted into the end-zone untouched for a massive major.
“On that play everyone did their jobs, blocked on the left side and I returned it for a touchdown,” Bowers said. “Our speed, our agility. They had big guys, but our speed on offence was killing them.”
Defensively, the Knights were airtight in forcing three two and outs in the first quarter.
The Mohawks regained the lead with an assist to their defence. Knights quarterback Cameron Fietz was picked off at midfield, almost leading to a pick-six for the visitors.
Tailback Zander Highdinger would punch it in on first-and-goal to secure Medicine Hat a 9-6 advantage going into the break.
The Knights took the lead for good in the fourth-quarter in taking advantage of the Mohawks room in the second level with their unusual 52 base defence formation.
Bulldozing fullback Jonathan Leggett punched it in up the gut from 45 yards out after his partner in the backfield Cian Booth helped to grind down the Medicine Hat front-seven.
“At the beginning of the year we went through a lot, the team took a big blow and lost some games we shouldn’t have lost,” Bowers said. “This was a huge turning point to our season to show the guys that showing up to practices, doing all the things we need to do, we can accomplish greater things if we all stick together.”
Medicine Hat was held to a single-point in the second-half on a missed field-goal due largely to the Knights’ stout run defence.
“We traded film with them and saw they were a big team and most of their runs were between the tackles,” Hassett said. “No one has been able to make a living doing that against our defence. I think that’s a strength of our defence.”
The statement victory was the Knights’ second in four days.
HTA went into Canmore on Sept. 29 and shut out the Crusaders by a 20-0 score.
In two games, Fietz looked comfortable behind centre in relief of quarterback Fraser Kiranas who’s sidelined with appendicitis.
“Cameron did a great job filling in,” Hassett said. “It was a lot of football this week, but the more snaps you get at that position, the better you’re going to be.
“He did a good job managing the game and I think he’s going to just get better.”
The in-form Knights will be put to the test this week when they meet one of the province’s most storied programs. HTA makes the trek south to tackle the Raymond Comets on Oct. 8.
“It’s going to be a great challenge for our defence,” Hassett said. “Our pass defence, Raymond is going to test us on that, they’re always a very skilled team that way.
“That will help us play better when we play Rundle and Foothills again.”
