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2005
KUDOS for that OTHER football factory
Rams win third title
You can't beat a three-peat.
The Sherwood Park Rams Bantam football team has become the stuff of legends as they continued their incredible dominance at the level by winning a record-setting third consecutive provincial championship last weekend in Calgary.
And it's not just the three titles that are impressive but the way the Rams won them, going undefeated for three straight years and 40 straight games along the way.
This in a league where you turn over more than half your team every year.
And to put the cherry on top of yet another perfect season was the way the Rams went out, pounding the Calgary Bulldogs 31-0 in the Alberta finals on Saturday.
Along the way the Rams recorded 356 yards on offence while holding the Bulldogs to almost nothing, three total first downs, negative 15 yards rushing and just 25 yards gained through the air for an astonishing 10 total.
Scoring for the Rams were Adam Beller with a pair of TDs followed by Taylor Souster and Kyle Dunlop. The Rams also got two points off a defensive safety and one from a missed field goal. On defence Brad Nehring and Donavin Obenauer recorded quarterback sacks while Taylor Amirault and Joel Seutter both recovered fumbles.
Defensive coordinator Greg Johnson felt that his unit had another level they could reach and that they dialed it up in the final.
“Last week I challenged the defence to play their best game in this championship,” he said. “I said we had yet to see their best game. Well we saw it today. Coverage was tight, pursuit relentless, gaps were cancelled and we had gang tackles on nearly every play. They totally shut down a very good Southern Champion team. I am so proud of these guys. The final chapter of the Rams' book is in for this season and it once again ends with an exclamation point.”
“We played a great and aggressive game today and in the end we came out on top,” said offensive lineman Keaton McKiel.
Rams head coach Jim Skitsko, who has now guided the team to five provincial titles, was just as happy with this one as he was with their first.
“We honestly beat them in every aspect of the game,” he said. “The special teams were great, the offence was awesome and the defence was again unbelievable. It's the first provincial final where we were able to shut the other team out. This team got three first downs against us and one came from a penalty. That says it all. And we had so much depth with players stepping it up and coming in and playing huge when we had some injuries early. I'd say we won because of our depth and our intensity. It was truly a team win. A lot of kids had never won a championship before and you are always happiest to see them taste from the cup.”
Skitsko added he was pleased every member of the team was able to get into the game and play a part in the victory in the final.
Looking back on the magnificent three year run Skitsko admits he often has to shake his head about the level of success his team has been able to maintain.
“We've won 40 consecutive games, which is just unheard of,” he said. “I have to shake my head. First off where did the three years go but also to win three years in a row at this level is amazing. Every Bantam team basically turns over two thirds of their kids each year. It says a lot about our organization. We have incredible turnout for our practices and we manage to keep them fun. Our parents are unbelievable and our executive is almost beyond description how good they are. The machine just keeps rolling along.”
Only one player has been with the Rams for three full seasons. Taylor Souster has suited up for the Rams for all 40 consecutive wins, earning his third ring.
Skitsko plans on remaining with the team for the foreseeable future as they try to keep their remarkable run going for a fourth year.
Bantam Park Rams Knock Wolverines' Lights Out"
Sherwood Park's version of Friday Night Lights didnt exactly contain a Hollywood style cliffhanger.
There was more suspense about whether the main field at SAP would be ready in time than the result after oft-delayed construction work on the track that rings the football field but the county delivered on its promise to have it ready in time for this game and the fans responded by filling the stands.
After a fairly tight first 10 minutes the first Friday night game of the year at SAP between the rival Bantam Sherwood Park Rams and Wolverines returned to a script clearly penned by the Rams as the two-time defending provincial champs remained undefeated and on a winning streak that extends over two and a half seasons.
Unfortunately for half of the fans there it wasn't much fun to watch beyond the first quarter as the Rams rebounded after being tested early and took the game going away, winning
68-0. the Rams were able to amass 449 total yards of offence as Adam Beller scored an impressive five touchdowns, followed by Taylor Souster with three and Tyler Nelson and Akeem Brown with one apiece.
They may have had trouble against a fired up Wolverines team in the early running but they turned the game around quickly.
"Our offence didn't play very well in the first quarter" said Rams offensive tackle Andrew Carefoot."But the second and third and fourth quarters we really picked our play up. The game was very intense with all the people there and the game seemed closer because of the emotion."
"We did not play well for the first five minutes or so and them we semed to get our legs" said running back Akeem Brown who scored his first ever touchdown for the Rams."We never looked back after that. The defense played their usual strong game again. It was an exciting game to play in the lights and the crowd."
The Rams defense was able to hold the Wolverines to just one yard on the ground and 81 yards through the air. Interceptions were recorded by Rams Matt Perry, Tyler Nelson and Jon Chocair.
Defensive Coordinator Greg Johnson was pleased with the fire his team displayed in the victory.
"Intensity is not something that can be turned off and on. It's got to build from game to game" he said. "Playoffs are just a month away and the intensity has to start building. I challenged the guys before the Raiders game the week previous to start turning it up. Before this game I asked them to crank it up even more and they responded."
the Rams next game is another Friday night game when they face the Sherwood Park Northstars.