Bantam Rebels triumph over Pincher Creek in weekend action

Poll

Should the federal government be allowed to deal directly with municipalities without interference?

• YES
• NO

View Results

 Loading ...

Recent News →

• Jets finish off Vegas schedule
• Edlund shines at Best of the West
• Ellis: Vacancy rates within Alberta’s RCMP are concerning
• From the Archives of Western Newspapers
• Is it time to defund the CBC?

Recent Blog Posts →

• From the Archives of Western Newspapers
• From the Archives of Western Newspapers
• From the Archives of Western Newspapers
• From the Archives of Western Newspapers
• From the Archives of Western Newspapers

Editor’s Note: In a Times website exclusive, reporter Greg Price reviews recent game play by the Taber bantam Rebels football team.

By Greg Price
Taber Times
gprice@tabertimes.com

Taber bantam Rebels football team gutted out a 19-0 victory over Pincher Creek on the road on Saturday.

The Rebels were able to stifle Pincher Creek given its narrow playbook to get the shutout.

“They run that Double Wing T offence and we were just blitzing every chance we could. Their quarterback was their man and eventually they kept running the same play over and over again,” said Jamie O’Connor, head coach of the Taber bantam Rebels football coach.

Offensively, it was a bit of a struggle throughout the game as the Rebels were only able to muster a 7-0 lead at half-time.

Alex Neudorf was eventually able to run wild, galloping for all three Rebels scores on the way to 257 yards on the ground on 12 carries.

“We had some decent blocking, I wouldn’t say it was great blocking, and he was just able to outrun them,” said O’Connor, adding a couple of majors were called back with blocks in the back. “It wasn’t a picture perfect game from a coaching standpoint, but we did what we need to do to win. We had a chat at half-time talking about what we needed to do and we had a better second half with our execution.”

The rebels now prepare for a Southern Alberta Minor Football Association first-round match up with Cardston on the road on Saturday as the Rebels finished in sixth out of eight teams in the standings.

“The winner goes to Tier I while the loser moves to Tier III,” said O’Connor of the Rebels playing the third-ranked Cougars.

On paper, it looks like the Rebels will have their hands full against Cardston who has a running back that is 6-foot-4 and 190 pounds according to O’Connor, but anything is possible come playoff time. While O’Connor acknowledges the Rebels will not likely be able to keep up with the Raymond Comets and Lethbridge Rams of Tier I, the Tier III championship is very much within the Rebels grasp.

“I still feel we are capable of going all the way (in Tier III). Tier III we are right up there. I know we can beat the Coyotes and them and Coaldale play the 4/5 game,” said O’Connor.

If the Rebels win its first playoff game, the will be in Tier I and it will likely be a road game. If they win, it is guaranteed they will be hosting a playoff game on the Oct. 27 weekend.

Get More The Taber Times →