Jackie Larocque
Sept. 27 was a balmy autumn day at the football field behind HJ Cody High School where the Lakers took on the Ponoka Broncs football team in the third league game this year.
The first quarter was fraught with head butting, shoves and tackles as each team tested the other’s strengths and weaknesses.
Skylar Selk, using his quarterback wits, enabled Landon Rosene to bolt over Ponoka’s line twice for two touchdowns. Michael Smyth dug in for 36-yard touchdown, and Chase Elwood trotted eight yards for yet another touchdown. Seth Blagen then sealed the deals, attaining the extra point conversion on each touchdown.
The Laker defence tackled and blocked Ponoka, making it impossible for them to score any touchdowns.
The second quarter started with the Lakers leading 28-0, and what a quarter. Ponoka couldn’t get anywhere on the Lakers’ defence. Carter Theriault was smashing receivers so the sound of clashing equipment was reverberating off the school. Sulley Larocque was like an annoying mosquito diving and bringing any Bronc with a ball into the ground. Matthew Bossert was perfecting his sandwich move and wrapped up a few Broncs trying to get away.
And don’t think the rest of the defence was idly standing by; dog piles galore flattened Ponoka’s ball runners throughout the quarter.
Kyle Eckenswiller snagged an interception to bring the offensive onto the field. Within minutes, Skylar Selk tossed the ball to Landon Rosene who shot out of the melee of players up the side for a 70-yard touchdown. The boy has wheels. Seth Blagen again nailed the conversion, bringing the score to 35-0.
Back and forth went the ball and the offence and defensive teams. Then Skylar fired the ball into the hands of Kyle Eckenswiller, and with his long legs crossed the line for yet another touchdown. Here came Seth for yet another conversion point.
Half time saw the Lakers leading 42-0.
The third quarter saw the up-and-coming players come onto the field to benefit from game experience. The ball got juggled, tossed and popped around giving Tristan Koller and Ryan Arnold some experience in a game setting where the defence does want to pummel you.
Rydan Thomas made some spectacular tackles diving at Ponoka and refused to let go until they succumbed into the ground. Kyle Eckenswiller made the field look like a smash up derby as he collided into Ponoka.
Tyrese Hamilton snagged the pass and sprinted for the line, but got spun out of control by Ponoka. Tyrese wound up with 34 rushing yards this game.
Neither team managed to cruise over the line for a touchdown.
In the fourth quarter, Ponoka really put on the pressure to get onto the score board.
Michael Smyth got a good taste of what it feels like to be the one player the other team wants to drill into the ground. He met the challenge and threw some excellent passes proving that he is an up-and-coming quarterback.
In the end though, Ponoka was able to make two touchdowns, ending the game with a final score of 42-12 for the Lakers.
Coach Jeremy Braitenback was pleased that the boys were able to get a good lead in the first half. This allowed him to use the players that often don’t get much experience during a real game setting.
Parents, if you want to see where your teenage daughters are, be at the football field behind HJ Cody on Friday, Oct. 3 at 4 p.m., where the Lakers will challenge Stettler.