The hardest challenge is yet to come for the Senior Drumheller Titans, who dropped the Strathmore Spartans over the weekend with a dominating score of 34-0.
“You take what they give you,” said coach Jason Rasmussen about the defensive shutout which made this season’s tally 2-0.
Allowing very little yards after catch from Strathmore, the success story of the game was the Titan’s defence, said the coach. “The defensive-backs were right there to shut them down,” Rasmussen said of Drumheller’s lockdown on Spartan receivers.
“They played an exceptional game, you know defence had a good game when the score against is zero.”
The only irk in the team’s victory was “suspect” calls made by referees at the game in Strathmore.
Drumheller had been accused of blocking from behind and excessive blocking, but the team’s review of the game film did not provide them with any evidence.
“The refs played with the momentum of the game,” Rasmussen said, “so this week at practices we’re going to make sure everything is by the book.
“We don’t want to give them anything.”
Running-back Daulton Smith ran three touchdowns in the game, as well as tight-end Cody Gouin and quarterback Braydon Mahon who scored a TD in both Strathmore’s game and Lethbridge’s.
“Daulton perceived weakness on his side and was able to go through their defence repeatedly, that’s when we can make their defence look silly.”
On Saturday, September 18 the Titans will face what they believe to be the hardest enemy to come in Olds, who look like the biggest team so far with a majority of their team being returning players.
For those waiting to watch the strong team, the Titans will be hosting their first home opener against Canmore, and Rasmussen is sure it will be a pleaser.
“Canmore and Drumheller have developed a string of really close, really entertaining games. We need the crowd out there to cheer them on so we can come out victorious.”
The team’s first home game of the season is on September 25 at 1:00 p.m.
Although other teams in the Big Sky Tier Four league have size over Drumheller’s Titans, the valley boys carry “deceptive size” said the coach.
“Our strength relies more in our speed than in our size.
“We can still roll with them.”