It took six years, but the Bonnyville Voyageurs were finally victorious on Scott McDonald Memorial Day.
The local high school football team scored 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter on Saturday night to eliminate a 7-0 deficit and defeat the Westlock T-Birds 17-7.
“It is really huge win,” said Voyageurs head coach Larry Godziuk.
“The boys listened to our coaching. We put a strategy in place and they followed the game plan. The guys played really, really tough.”
Both teams had trouble moving the ball up and down the field during the first half of the game, with defences keeping the scoreboard blank at halftime.
Bonnyville looked to be gaining momentum midway through the third quarter. Quarterback Justyn Davidson found Dylan Middagh streaking through the middle, the big tight end caught the ball and turned up field. After crossing the 50-yard-line Middagh dropped his shoulder and trucked over a smaller T-Birds defender to grab a few more yards. While the play got a loud cheer out of the Bonnyville crowd the referee didn't like it, flagging Middagh for unnecessary roughness on the play.
The penalty and subsequent turnover gave Westlock great field position. They were able to punch in a short touchdown at take a 7-0 lead at 6:19 of the third quarter.
“When we go down a touchdown it kind of brings the spirit down,” said Middagh. “But everyone just tightened up and focused up.”
Bonnyville's next drive saw them march their way down the field and into the red zone.
Zachary Hesson hauled in a 30-yard pass. Reid Skrypichayko busted out a 15-yard run and was gifted an extra 15 yards for a unnecessary roughness call on Westlock.
With the Voyageurs inside the 20-yard line Skrypichayko took the ball up the left side, a defender caught him from behind and punched the ball out with the T-Birds recovering the fumble.
Bonnyville's next chance to score came early in the fourth quarter. With the T-Birds focusing their defense on Skrypichayko, who was lining up as the outside receiver, the Voyaguers looked to their tight end.
“It wasn't a conscious game plan, but we did notice they weren't paying attention to him, so we might as well use him,” said Godziuk.
Middagh broke up the middle and Davidson found him, threading a short 20-yard pass to the tight end for the score; with 9:43 to go the Voyageurs had tied the game.
After the Bonnyville defense shutdown the T-Birds attack, the Voyageurs offense was given a chance to produce a game winning drive taking the ball with 4:50 on the clock.
Davidson found Middagh for a 30-yard gain. Skrypichayko picked up another first down with an 11-yard run before sending a short pass to Middagh for a 15-yard gain. Skrypichayko called his own number and ran 10 yards getting hauled down at the one-yard line.
With the Voyageurs at the goal line and under three minutes on the clock Middagh called the play.
“After Reid couldn't punch it in I went to coach and said ‘I want to do a tight end fade, just throw it up to a high point and no one can catch it over me,” said Middagh.
Davidson lobbed a short pass up over the Westlock defenders into the arms of a wide-open Middagh in the centre of the end zone to give Bonnyville the 14-7 lead.
“It was definitely a good feeling,” said Middagh. “That's two more (touchdowns) than I got last season. I feel like Gronk.”
Bonnyville would recover a fumble in the final minute of the game add on a field goal to pick up a 17-7 victory.
“It was very satisfying, because we beat a good football team,” said Godziuk. “Our record is 2-2 but I don't think that reflects how good of a team we are. It was satisfying to see them put in an effort and a comeback.”
The Voyageurs travel to Lloydminster for a game on Friday night.
