The St. Paul Lions won their football game against the Athabasca Pacers at EPC field in Athabasca last Friday in a decisive fashion.
The final score was 69-20 for the Lions, thanks to the Lions’ offence, which was outstanding, according to Lions’ defensive coach, Todd Tanasichuk. “Our offensive line was absolutely outstanding … our offensive line dominated out there.”
The game started with the Pacers scoring first by the fourth play of the game, which prompted the Lions to answer right back, said Tanasichuk.
“We were down 0-7, and we needed our offence to perform, and they did,” said John Lumby, the Lions’ offensive coach.
After the Lions tied the game at 7-7, the Pacers scored again, which was promptly answered by the Lions’ offence, bringing the score to 14-14 in the first quarter.
“Defensively, our intensity was low coming out,” said Tanasichuk, adding, “We weren’t in the right mindset. (Our offense) kept us in it for sure.”
In the second quarter, the Lions’ defence came together in shutting down the Pacers while the Lions’ offence continued to dominate by scoring seven more touchdowns – one of them from Phillipe Bergeron’s punt return. “Before we knew it, the game was a blowout, with a half-time score of 49-14,” commented Tanasichuk.
The Lions went on to score three more touchdowns in the second half of the game, thanks to the younger members of the team, such as Dominic Dion, who completed an interception return for a touchdown in the third quarter. He led the Lions to two more touchdowns as their quarterback during the second half.
“Dion is a really good athlete; he’s been working out,” said Lumby. Lumby went on to say that Dion is gaining confidence, learning quickly, and that he is only going to get better.
This is also the first season in Tanasichuk’s 11 years of coaching that the team had all five starting offensive linemen returning. “It is a real advantage for us,” said Tanasichuk. “Zach Machura, Donovan Whitnack, Sky Pasquayak, Landon Ozga and Colton Hymanyk … are the major reason why our offence is doing so well.”
The Lions will play a home game against the Grand Centre Royals this Friday at 5 p.m. “In order for us to go to provincials, we have to beat Grand Centre Royals, and it’s usually a hard-hitting, fast pace football,” commented Tanasichuk.
“We’re taking it very seriously. It’s a rivalry and a war (against Cold Lake),” explained Lumby when asked about the Lions’ next game. “We are going to give it everything we got to win that game.”
