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2003
Rams Alberta's Top Bantams
The Sherwood Park Rams got the special feeling back that they'd lacked for four years and they can thank their special teams for recovering it.
Two kick return touchdowns were the difference as the Rams, representing the Capital District, earned their third Football Alberta provincial bantam title with a 44-23 victory over the Calgary Wildcats yesterday at Foote Field.
"You have to savour each championship and never take them for granted" said Rams head coach Jim Skitsko. "After winning that second one in'99, 2 in three years, we took things for granted and thought it was simple. It took us four years to get back and we took care of business this time."
The Rams got off to a quick start with a pair of three yard touchdown runs by Zac Smith, but the feisty Wildcats would not go away. Sherwood Park regained some momentum in the second quarter on the ensuing kickoff after a Calgary touchdown when Jordan Adamson darted 67 yards down the sidelines for a major.
Calgary got another score back before the half, but again it was the Rams' special teams that thwarted any comeback attempt. Duncan Hankinson raced 37 yards on a punt return just 1:30 into the third quarter, pushing the Rams ahead 26-14.
"The second one really broke their back" said Skitsko.
Wildcats bech boss Greg Wilson doubles as his club's special teams coach and accepted the blame for the two breakdowns."I have to take full responsibility for those: Wilson admitted."We'd only given up two special teams touchdowns all year. We had a couple of missed assignments and their blocking was very good."
The highly touted Wildcats offence sputtered for most of the game, save for a big drive in the third quarter that ended with quarterback Tyler Petersen finding Tyler Colenett for a 23 yard scoring strike. Peterson occasionally combined with lumbering back Evan Rasmussen for significant yardage until the Sherwood Park defence held its ground for good.
"Their defence was very well prepared for us" Wilson said. "They took away a lot of our key plays that had worked for us all year. They did their homework and it really showed."
The Rams made two major mistakes in the dying moments of the fourth quarter- an unnecessarily surrendered safety and a botched third down gamble inside their own 40- but a fumble recovery from lineman Brandon Vickers stalled the Wildcats and Sherwood Park got its act together for two late scores that turned this one into a rout.
"We had a lot of confidence and we're a tough second half team" said Smith who teamed with Hankinson and Kurtis MacDonald for the Rams' grinding ground offence."The difference in the second half was that our defence stood up more and was a lot tougher."
Rams Run Wild Over Wolverines
The mighty train that is the Sherwood Park Rams just keeps rolling along, even along snow covered trails.
Last weekend the Rams overcame a frozen field to end the four game win streak of the upstart Sherwood park Wolverines to win the Capital District Football crown, 27-0.
In the process the Rams continued their perfect season, which currently stands at 11 wins, zero losses - and as hot as the weather is cold.
Ever since their early exit from the playoffs last season, the Rams have had their sites on provincials, and this victory puts them one game away from the provincial championship- which is hosted this year at Foote Field.
Despite coming close, even to the one yard line, the Wolverines were not able to overcome the stifling Rams' defence. The Wolverines' defence, perhaps the only team that matches up size-wise to the Rams, were notable to contain speedy running backs Duncan Hankinson and Kurtis MacDonald.
MacDonald broke free to manage 140 yards against the Wolverines, one of the few players this year that managed the feat. Zack Smith added another 59 yards while little-heralded Kyle Christenheuz added another 49, mostly in the late stages.
Ben Perry started the damages in the first quarter as he returned a punt return 70 yards (of the 200 on the day) along the frozen tundra for the early lead.
With the score 14-0 at halftime. both teams had reason to be happy. the Wolverines had kept it close, while the Rams held the lead. It was the same story in the second half as the Rams' defence dominated. the turning point in the game was no doubt the Rams' defesive stand at the one yard line on a third down gamble. The Rams' offence put together a beautful 109 yard march, consuming 81/2 minutes in the process, for a touchdown by Kyle Cristenheuz Christenheuz would score another touchdown late in the game to salt away the win."Christenheuz ws actually our third running back in the formation. He did a great job" said Rams' head coach Jim Skitsko.
"That drive in the third really was the killer admitted Wolverines' head coach Wally Bawol.
"I can't say enough goodthings about our kids this week, they were so focused,"said Skitsko.
"All-in-all, it was a pretty good day on defence"said Rams' defensive coordinator Mark Feledichuk. "...The Wolverines came close, but our defence dug a little deeper and we managed to stop them."
The Rams play the Camrose Coyotes next weekend for the Northern Alberta championship.
"We aren't going to take Camrose lightly."