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SPORTS
LLOYDMINSTER SOURCE I WWW.LLOYDMINSTERSOURCE.COM I Tuesday, November 4, 2014
SPORTS
LLOYDMINSTER SOURCE
Twitter: @LloydSource, @andrewbrethauer
Andrew Brethauer Photo
The Lloydminster Comprehensive Barons were one yard away from a Wheatland Football League championship, but were held out of the end zone and missed a game-tying field goal attempt, allowing the Holy Rosary Raiders to hang on to a 9-7 victory.
As close as they come by Andrew Brethauer andrew@lloydminstersource.com
Wide right – not by a lot, but by enough. Mitch Andony’s missed field goal went through the end zone for a single point, two points shy of what the Lloydminster Comprehensive Barons needed to send Saturday night’s Wheatland Football League championship into overtime. One point, not three, not enough. It was the third missed opportunity in a matter of seconds for the Barons, who trailed the Holy Rosary Raiders 9-6 with under two minutes to play. Kirk Haan and Denton Collins connected for a long pass and runs by Jahid Abdullah got the Barons to the one yard line with a minute and a half to go. It was a sickening
moment for the Raiders, who, up till this point, hadn’t allowed the Barons a major score all season, but were one yard away from losing the WFL championship for the second year in a row. Abdullah tried up the middle, but was held back by a swarming defence. A quick throw to the wideout on second down was again met with a pack of Raiders who pushed the Barons off the one-yard line and moved them back to the five. Barons head coach Aaron Harper sent out his kicking unit. Raiders head coach Vince Orieux could only watch, debating on calling a timeout to give his offence some time to work after the field goal to win the game before overtime. The kick went up, brushed past the goal post and out of
the end zone. The Raiders only needed two knees on offence to secure their victory, a 9-7 final. “You got to trust your defence,” said Orieux. “You’re down at the far end of the field, you can’t give them any instructions, you just hope everything you talked about in practice sinks in and they play the game right.” The Saturday night show under the lights at the Raider Bowl was anything but what was expected. Coming into the final, Holy Rosary had the top producing offence in the league, while the Barons were rallying behind an air raid offence that brought them success in the regular season. Raiders quarterback Karl Telidetzki hooked up with
GAME DAYS Wed., Nov. 5
Vs.
Matthew Chapelski for the game’s only major score, giving the Raiders a 7-0 lead after the first quarter. It would be the only time either team would cut the plane of the goal line, as the top two defences in the WFL took over, forcing quick passes and holding up against each other’s run game. Andony got the Barons on the board in the second quarter, when he split the uprights for three points. The Barons’ defence would force the Raiders to concede a safety when they plugged them back on their own goal line, sending both teams to their end zones at halftime with the Raiders clinging to a 7-5 lead. The Raiders defence came out in the third quarter and provided what would be the difference in the final. See “WFL,” Page 23
at the Civic Centre
Sherwood Park Crusaders 7:30 pm
Sun., Nov. 9
Bonnyville Pontiacs 2:30 pm
Wed., Nov. 12
Spruce Grove Saints 7:30 pm
Fri., Nov. 21
Camrose Kodiaks 7:30 pm
Wed., Nov. 26
Bonnyville Pontiacs 7:30 pm
Sat., Nov. 29 Olds Grizzlys 7:30 pm
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