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Rams slip by Falcons in thriller

The Falcons lost a ram-tough one. Foothills dropped their opening high school football game of the season when Lethbridge’s LCI Rams scored touchdowns in the final minutes of both the first and second halves for a 21-17 victory Friday at the Comp.
Foothills Falcons quarterback Tyson Pitcher charges forward for extra yardage during the 21-17 loss to the LCI Rams on Sept. 2 at Falcons field.
Foothills Falcons quarterback Tyson Pitcher charges forward for extra yardage during the 21-17 loss to the LCI Rams on Sept. 2 at Falcons field.

The Falcons lost a ram-tough one.

Foothills dropped their opening high school football game of the season when Lethbridge’s LCI Rams scored touchdowns in the final minutes of both the first and second halves for a 21-17 victory Friday at the Comp.

“We got lucky twice,” said Rams coach Darren Majeran. “Our receiver John Evans made two great plays, but the Falcons were right there on both plays. We feel lucky to come away with a win.”

The winning touchdown came as a result of Rams’ third-and 10 gamble from their 40 yard-line with less than two-minutes left in the game as LCI quarterback Ryan Genswein’s pass went through the hands of heads-up Falcon safety Tyler Ziehl and somehow Evans made the catch.

The Rams receiver was hauled down inside the five and two plays later, LCI’s star runningback Tanner Sudo took it in for the winning touchdown.

“I thought he (Ziehl) got a piece of it,” Evans said. “I caught it, threw a stiff arm and ran — late in the game I have to make the catches.”

The defending Tier II provincial champion Falcons are in a reloading year, but they proved they can play with Tier I schools like LCI.

Foothills would take an early 7-0 lead after Falcon linebacker Keaton Goosen jumped on a fumble at the Rams 15-yard-line. Two plays later runningback Jude Oh would take a swing pass from quarterback Tyson Pitcher and strolled into the end zone to take the early lead.

The Rams would counter on their next drive with their traditional ground game. It was capped off by a seven-yard TD run by Sudo, a member of Team Alberta last summer.

Foothills would regain the lead when Mr. Automatic, place kicker Seth Nelson, split the uprights from 23 yards out midway through the second quarter.

However, the Falcons got their first glimpse of the strange magic between Genswein and Evans just before the half.

The Rams would take the lead with 12.3 seconds left win a 22-yard pass from Genswein bounced off the hands of sure-handed Nelson into the arms of Evans for the major and a 14-10 lead at the half.

“I was just lucky - it dropped right into my hands,” Evans said.

Although down at the half, Foothills was far from out. Foothills would regain the lead at 17-14 when an alert veteran linebacker Tyler Going stepped in front of a Genswein pass and didn’t stop until 64 yards later to give the Falcons a first and goal at the Rams four-yard line.

Pitcher would then call his own number, punching the ball in for the TD with 9:13 left in the game.

“I saw the quarterback look to the receiver and just jumped the route, and I was able to run 60 yards,” Going said.

The Falcons were unable to hang on as LCI pulled off the 17-14 win.

History is on the Falcons side. Last season, they opened the year with a loss to Tier I powerhouse St. Francis Browns at Falcons Field and then proceeded to win the Foothills’ fifth provincial title.

Foothills head coach Darren Olson said his squad will learn from the loss.

He liked what he saw, except for maybe the final score.

“Tonight we had guys in position to make the plays and it was just one of those games where it just didn’t go right,” Olson said. “That one play (just before the half), Seth knocks the ball down 99 out of 100 times.

“Even Ziehl, and this is his first game playing safety, he was at the right spot. The Rams made some big plays.”

He said it was a learning experience.

“We started three Grade 10s on our offensive line and two had never played football before,” Olson said. “First game, you want to give guys a chance for a feel for the game.

“We had some mental breakdowns, losing containment on the outside way too many times.”

Grade 10 slotback Payton Burbank said he will learn from his first high school game.

“A little bit nerve-wracking but there is a lot to take out of this game — to just go out there and play your heart out,” Burbank said. “Some of the plays I didn’t get the play I wanted, but I’m going to come back next week.”

The Falcons next game is against the defending Tier III provincial champions the Cochrane Cobras in Cochrane, Sept. 10 at noon.

It is the first match up in a decade as the two schools were rivals when the Falcons were members of the Rocky View Football League.

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