The Drumheller Peewee Terrapins started the season out on the right foot winning their opener over Airdrie on the road.
The Terrapins were facing Airdrie for the first time and on Saturday, September 7. They come out strong and by half time were leading by two touchdowns, Airdrie came back and scored two touchdowns in the third quarter, making it a close game. The Terrapins pulled together a 32-20 win.
“Our guys never got down, they scored a couple more,” said coach Paul Redmond. “They played a pretty good game.”
He said Airdrie has a tough team posing a challenge for the Terrapins.
“On defense, I like to shut down their running game and the sweep and force them to do things they don’t practice as much like passing, but Airdrie had a pretty good quarterback and one kid that could catch so they gave us a tough game,” said Redmond.
He says this season because of low registration numbers, the Terrapins are playing nine-man. In fact, half of their league is doing the same with teams in Drumheller, Airdrie, Innisfail, Rocky Mountain House and Sylvan Lake playing nine per side.
Coach Redmond says this allows the players more opportunities on the field than the traditional 12 player game, and also allows better coaching. He adds that Football may begin to mandate playing either 6-man or 9-man at the younger levels.
“It is more developmental and safer,” said Redmond. “What I found with nine-man is I can do way more teaching. We are finding we have more time to show these kids what to do. With our limited numbers, it helps us out a bit.”
The Terrapins are back on the field this Saturday, September 14 versus Sylvan Lake for their home opener. Game time is 11 a.m.
