ST. PAUL – At times, it seemed as if the St. Paul Bengals’ season would be coming to an end, during their match against the Grande Prairie Broncos on Nov. 12.
In the first quarter, the bantam Bengals scored right away and took the lead 6-0, to which the Broncos immediately responded, taking the lead and making the score 7-6.
The Bengals scored on their next possession and took back the lead, but it didn’t last long as the Broncos scored again, 13-12.
Then during the third quarter, Bengals head coach Todd Tanasichuk said it was “disaster for St. Paul.” The Broncos scored twice “while the Bengals’ offence sputtered.” The host team gained an eight-point lead by the end of the quarter.
In the last quarter of the match, “the Bengals’ offence continued having issues with turnovers,” according to Tanasichuk. The opposing team took advantage and got another touchdown, widening the gap 32-18 with eight minutes left in the game.
“It didn’t look good,” said Tanasichuk.
Then, the Bengals’ offensive team performed a “strong” drive for a touchdown. The Bengals followed the touchdown with their first two-point conversion, closing the gap 32-26.
Only four minutes remained in the game when the Bengals’ defence stopped the Broncos, returning the ball back to the offense. Then, the Bengals marched down the field, but were halted on a third down at the Broncos’ 20-yard line.
The Broncos took a safety, giving the Bengals two-points to make the score 32-28, and only less than a minute remained.
The Broncos’ kickoff “put us in a good field position at the mid-field,” according to Tanasichuk. “St. Paul then ran a play-action pass to wide open receiver Kayden Taschuk,” and he was tackled at the one-yard line.
“Ezra Kornelson scored on a quarterback sneak to put us in the lead 34-32,” with 33 seconds left in the game, said Tanasichuk. He said the Broncos then tried to score multiple times but failed.
During the game, which took place in Grande Prairie, Joseph Pilipchuk scored three touchdowns, and Aaron Sachko and Ezra Kornelson each scored one.
"It was a tremendous comeback,” said the coach. “While [the Broncos] were bigger and probably more athletic than us on average, the Bengals had more heart and refused to give up – that was the key to our victory.”
He said there was a point in the game where the Bengals could have “easily” given up. “But we refused to, and we battled back in,” and before the team knew it, “we were in a position to win the game and get it done."
“Our boys showed tremendous heart today and battled right to the end,” said Tanasichuk.
So, with the team's courage and spirit displayed at the match, Tanasichuk says he is confident about the upcoming provincial championship against the Edmonton Chargers on Nov. 19.
“In these games... you’re going to be challenged,” both physically and mentally, he said. “There’s going to be a momentum swing, and your heart is going to be challenged.”
Mistakes were made during the game, but “it’s about the unwillingness to lose,” that allowed the Bengals a chance to come back, “and that’s exactly what happened.”
A long time coming
Tanasichuk also congratulated the St. Paul Lions for winning their match against Sexsmith.
He said it has been 39 years since the Bengals and the Lions both advanced this far in provincials.
“It’s usually one or the other – not both in the same year,” he said. “So, it’s an incredibly special year for us.”
“I like to say most of the time – teams wilt,” said Tanasichuk. “But in both cases today, the Lions and the Bengals refused to lose and got it done.”
Tansichuk hopes the community will make the drive to Sherwood Park on Saturday to take in the finals against the Edmonton Chargers.
The Bengals will play against the Edmonton Chargers for the provincial final at 5 p.m., on Nov. 19 in Sherwood Park, at Emerald Hills Stadium. The Edmonton Chargers are the bantam football Tier 1 champions of Edmonton.
“This is the top level of nine-player football at the bantam level in the province,” said Tanasichuk.
The St. Paul Lions and the Bengals will be playing on the same day and at the same stadium, with the Lions playing at noon against the Ardrossan Bisons for the Tier IV Northern Alberta Championship and a chance to play at the Alberta Bowl.
