For the second straight year the Bonnyville Renegades will compete for the league championship.
The Renegades overcame a 20-point first half deficit and pulled out a thrilling 38-20 victory over the Lloydminster Colts on Sunday afternoon.
“We play as a team. There is not one star,” said head coach Kevin Sartain,
“Mason Ward, Mason Sartain, Duncan Critch, and Brodie Gamble; four kids had touchdowns. Our whole line backing core made unreal tackles. It was a team effort.”
The Renegades gave up three big plays in the first half, which led to three Colts touchdowns and put them in an early 20-0 hole. Having lost to the Colts 54-26 last week at home, it would have been understandable for Bonnyville to give up and accept defeat – but that is not the Renegades according to Sartain, he flat out stated that the boys refused to lose this game.
“I am blown away by how these kids showed up. Every single one of them showed up in the second half,” said Sartain.
Brodie Gamble started the Bonnyville onslaught with a touchdown run. Then Mason Sartain went 65-yards up the middle for a score. Mason Ward got in on the act going 40-yards for a touchdown. Gamble added another and Duncan Critch rumbled in for a pair of scores. When the dust settled the Renegades had rattled off six second half touchdowns and held the Colts to zero.
“Our defense decided they didn't want to get slapped around, so they stuffed these kids.
The Colts didn't gain another yard in the second half,” said Sartain.
“The crew of Tyler Verrier, Joshua Morgan and John Neumann, we put them in as inside linebackers and they just dominated. If I was to give out a game ball it would go to Alese Sartain. She is one of our best defensive players.”
The confident Renegades squad will get another crack at winning a championship this Sunday when they take on a tough Lloydminster Steelers squad.
“We beat this team 32-20 in their house. We have to keep the kids calm and make sure they don't get over confident. We have to have good solid practices,” said Sartain.
The Steelers beat the Renegades 67-37 in last years Championship game.
