The Bantam Titans left nothing on the field as they battled Medicine Hat at the provincial semifinal.
In the end it wasn’t the Titans’ day, as Medicine Hat advanced. However with the team’s best finishes in history, they can hold their heads high.
Head coach Paul Redmond said he felt the game was in reach, however some of the uncontrollable variables continued to weigh on the Titans, including the chilly weather. The bantams also had some trouble holding on to the ball,
“I felt we could have beat them and should have beat them. If we hadn’t fumbled the ball so much, and these came back and haunted us again,” said Redmond.
He adds the two weeks between games, had the team out of sync on the field. Medicine Hat was a strong opponent found a weak spot on the left side of the Titans’ defense, an exploited it.
“We tried to change and adjust, but he had some pretty good blockers and they are well coached,” said Redmond, adding coming from a large urban school, Medicine Hat was able to dress 30 players for the game.
The Titans lost 35-0 but kept up the pressure.
“They fought right to the end, they tried to score on the last play, but it just didn’t happen,” said Redmond. “Had we stayed in there and not fumbled we could have kept it close and maybe eventually won it.”
The Bantams will see a few key players moving up next season, and that will have an impact on their line-up. Aden Enns and Nick Kakuk were standouts who will be moving up, along with quarterback Mitch Ostergard, as well as a few linemen.
“I have guys in behind that filing their sports, so they will be stepping up to that spot next year,” sad Redmond.
The success of the program continues to help it grow.
“We did fairly well this year and fairly well last year and hopefully that will draw a few more, and if the seniors win this next game it will make it even better,” said Redmond.
