The Big Rock Bengals are breathing rarefied air through two weeks.
Riding an opportunistic defence and big play offence the Bengals improved to 2-0 for the second time in program history following a 17-12 victory over the South Calgary Colts in Calgary and Area Midget Football Association action Friday night at Rundle College.
“We really focused on perfecting our one play and once we realized what we were doing we changed based off their formation,” said Bengals defensive lineman Aden Ellis. “Our coach is amazing at identifying who their weakest player is and adjusting to that player.
“To go from being 1-and-5 just a couple years ago to already being 2-and-0 is a fantastic feeling.”
Big Rock, blessed with excellent field position for the length of the first half, opened the scoring on a 31-yard field goal from Mr. Reliable, team captain Seth Nelson.
Nelson’s strong right boot then pinned the Colts in their zone on the ensuing kick-off, a squib kick which went into the end zone.
The Bengals would force a quick punt and start their drive on the Colts 35 yard line.
Running back Payton Burbank took the first play in the second quarter to the end-zone, cutting back down the left sideline and chugging his way in for the touchdown in his Bengals debut.
The Colts would add a late field goal to trim the deficit to 10-3 at the half.
Calgary came out firing following the restart and quickly found itself even off a short yardage scamper to paydirt.
Big Rock answered on its next drive.
Quarterback Robbie Hoffman scrambled out of trouble, dished off to a wide open Burbank who stampeded forward for a 40-yard gain.
Slotback Ethan Perry rushed forward for a change of pace 17-yard scamper before Burbank finished off the drive with a three-yard major.
“We wanted to keep our rhythm, get a little bit of yards,” said Bengals head coach Bruce Marlow. “We had Payton Burbank back and he lit it on fire, that first touchdown was unbelievable.
“The Colts reacted really well to him in the second half and held him inside the box so Robbie had to do a little razzle dazzle getting outside the box.”
Calgary threatened to level the score and managed to pin the Bengals offence and force them into a safety to make it a 17-12 advantage.
Big Rock closed out the result by forcing a crucial turnover.
With the Colts marching down the field in the final minute, defensive back Glenn Doroshenko wrapped up the triumph on a key fumble recovery with six seconds left on the clock.
“I was just watching him go down and then the ball pops out,” Doroshenko said. “I didn’t know it was a fumble to start with, but I picked it up and decided to run and tried to score and hoped to get a touchdown.”
The turnover would suffice as Big Rock ran out the clock to sew up consecutive victories.
“We just pumped ourselves up,” Doroshenko said. “You make your mistake and you get over it, you have three seconds is what coach says. You can kick the dirt whenever you want, but next play it’s over.”
Facing a second half surge from the Colts, the Bengals defence proved to be more than up for the challenge.
Big Rock finished the contest with three interceptions – through Doroshenko, Joash Binet and Chayton Nidd — and a pair of fumble recoveries in a dominant performance.
“It was just our captains, our senior players saying ‘hey, let’s calm down, let’s keep our head in the game,’” Ellis said. “It was just really the way we play and that’s what we work on at practices.
“We need to be able to work under pressure. Our coaches know how to handle that and our players really know how to handle that.”
Next up the Bengals lock horns with the 1-1 Calgary Stampeders for a Parkinson Division showdown on April 13 at Shouldice Athletic Park in Calgary.
For more information on the squad go to bigrockbengals.com
