Another provincial football title could be won on Walsh Field this Saturday as the Bonnyville Bandits will host the Cardston Jr. Cougars in the Tier III provincial bantam final.
The Bandits are fresh off a decisive 67-28 semi-final victory over the Sexsmith Shamrocks up in Grande Prairie this past Saturday.
With the win they became the champions of the North and earned the right to host Cardston, who handily defeated Lacombe 42-22 in the south versus central bantam final.
“It was a full team effort,” said Bandits coach Dan Jubinville. “The boys were blocking well on the line and blocking well up field running. Our passing was a little slow starting off, but in the end they were hitting the guys numbers and really getting it in there.”
In front of a crowd jam-packed with Bonnyville parents and fans, the Bandits caught the Shamrocks off guard and quickly put up five touchdowns to jump out to a 36-0 lead.
Back-to-back scores from Sexsmith got the hosts back into the football game.
After a Shamrocks touchdown, Bonnyville's return team misplayed the football on the ensuing kickoff, resulting the Sexsmith rumbling back down the field for another score.
The 14-points in mere seconds gave the Shamrocks a glimmer of hope before the Bandits shut the door for good.
“We had a couple bad defensive plays, but the boys came back and started playing harder than they have ever played,” said Jubinville. “The second half was total domination.”
The Bandits pulled off some eye-popping plays on both offense and defence en route to the 39-point victory.
Silas Fagnan turned heads with a touchdown catch, snagging the football with two fingers while flying through the air on his back.
Koleton Jubinville also made a run at play off the game with a pro-style block. The Bandits centre flipped an opposing linebacker right over top of him, sending the player flying through the air.
“The boys and girls really came together and played well,” said Jubinville.
The Bonnyville Bandits have now turned their attentions to a Tier II provincial final at Walsh Final on Nov. 21.
The Cardston Cougars, who are from a small town 230 kilometers south of Calgary, will make the seven-hour trek north for a 1p.m. kickoff.
“They are kind of a wild card right now,” said Jubinville. “We haven't seen much on them right now, but I do think we have a very good shot at beating them.”
