It was a season Bonnyville Bandits players, coaches and fans will never forget.
After pushing through a winless rebuilding year in 2010, the Bandits came back with focus this season and finished on top, defeating the Lloydminster Mustangs 34-10 on Nov. 5, to be named the 2011 Wheatland Bantam Football League champions.
“We had so many young guys last year,” said Bandits offensive coach Marc Bergquist. “Those young guys came back this season and matured immensely. They are the core of our team now and along with their teammates, put their hearts and souls into this and that's why we came out as champions.”
Bergquist said the team's first championship was an emotional one for the whole team, but in particular the players and coaches who have been with the team since the start, four seasons ago.
“I am so proud of our boys. I am so proud of our team. All those guys who have been here since the start, taking all those beatings and all those losses, this is what they worked for and they deserve it.”
Bandits running back and defensive back Maverick Best tried to describe the feeling of winning a championship.
“Last season was a very tough year,” he explained. “A lot of us came back this year determined to win and to actually do it feels amazing. I'm stoked!”
Bandits cornerback Isaac Fagnan praised his coaches for keeping the team focused and motivated to finish what they started.
“Our team played great because our coaches drilled into us all year, focus and finish, one of our team mottos,” he explained. “We have a sign up in our locker room that says ‘focus' and ‘finish' on it. Every time we went out on the field we'd run by and smack ‘focus'. And after every game we would come back by and smack ‘finish' to keep reminding ourselves what we need to do.
“It worked all season so we brought (the sign) with us to the championship,” Fagnan said.
Throughout the game the coaches could be heard reminding the players to “stay focused.”
Bandits head coach Dan Jubinville, who started in the Bonnyville football program as a high school student in 1986, said this will definitely rank at the top of his many football memories, especially beating Lloyd in the process.
“I've been in this and working at it since '86. And back then our biggest rivalry was Lloyd, so to win a championship on their field with the team we had, it's a great feeling.”
Jubinville added, “Bonnyville football owes this championship to Brian Walsh, who started the program 27 years ago.
“It's a championship for our team, and for the community.”
The game itself did not always appear promising for the Bandits, who, like in many road games this season, came out flat and found themselves down 10-6 in the first half.
But it was like a different team came out in the second half.
“We went inside and had a few words with the boys,” said Jubinville. “We got them calmed down and talked about focus and finish.”
He said, “We felt good about our chances in the second half, we knew we could be better and we were.”
The Bandits came out and immediately scored a touchdown to take the lead 13-10 in the third quarter.
Later in the quarter, Bandits running backs Donovan Campeau and Best combined to rush for a 60-yard TD, increasing the lead to 20-10.
That rattled the Mustangs and the dozens of cheering Bandits fans that made the trip to Lloyd got even louder.
The Bandits coaching staff continued to preach focus as the game moved into the fourth quarter.
The Bandits added two more touchdowns in the fourth, but it was the defence that really played a huge role in the win, according to Jubinville.
“We shut down one of the best running backs in the league. We kept their quarterback contained. Our defence is amazing.”
The Bandits defence forced and recovered three turnovers in the final ten minutes of the game. But Jubinville also commended his quarterback for coming back strong in the second half, after a tough first.
“You gotta hand it to Gregory (Godziuk). He was nervous going in, but he settled himself down and went to work in the second half. He made three or four big plays that really turned things around. He was huge for us.”
With the game out of reach and time winding down, players on both sides were getting a little excited.
A late hit by a Mustangs player led to an ejection late in the game, but Jubinville re-assured his team, with just minutes to go.
“Don't worry about it boys. Let's play our game. Let's focus and finish this one!”
The Bandits finished up the win, though the celebration was a little muted, as a Mustangs player was injured on the final play.
But once the trophy was handed out to the champions, the Bandits let loose and enjoyed the celebration.
Jubinville said this team is like a family, with players and coaches all being on an equal playing field.
“Our coaches all came together and worked as one,” said Jubinville. “They are amazing, all contributing their talents to this team. The players look up to them. We help each other. We are like a big family.”
When the Bandits arrived back in Bonnyville early Saturday evening, the town was ready for them.
RCMP escorted the team bus on a victory lap through town and eventually to Walsh Field, where current Voyageurs (many of whom were former Bandits) met the team to celebrate the championship.
With the Voyageurs winning their second straight consolation championship earlier in the day, the scene made for quite the celebration.
Jubinville thanked the community for all its support of Bonnyville football.
“We're looking to do it all over again next year,” he said.
The Bandits season, however, is not over, as the win qualifies the team for provincials, which will take place this Saturday in Edmonton.
The Bandits will play the Spruce Grove Cougars, champions of the Capital District Minor Football League, in the Tier III quarterfinal Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
