The Bonnyville Voyageurs desperately needed a win heading into their final game of the regular season against the Wainwright Commandos on Friday. And it appears desperation can help. The Voyageurs clearly stepped it up against Wainwright, especially on defence, and they managed to pull out the hard-fought win. They beat the Commandos 8-3, finishing the regular season with a record of 4 wins and 2 losses.
It was apparent from the opening kickoff that the game was going to remain close and likely be a defensive battle. The Voyageurs had lost their two previous games in close, defensive battles, and knew this one could be the same.
One of the leaders on Bonnyville's defence, Joel Cheverie, summed up his team's excitement following the big win. “You have no idea how good it feels, we've been in a rut the last two games, now we're out of that rut…it feels great!”
Offence was few and far between in the first half. The teams traded field goals, with Bonnyville tying the game at three a few minutes before halftime. The game headed into the second half with neither team's defence giving in.
Bonnyville scored two single points in the third quarter to make it 5-3. They then kicked a field goal in the fourth to extend the lead to 8-3. And from there the Voyageurs' defence shut it down.
With only three minutes left in the game the Voyageurs forced a huge turnover on downs, deep in Wainwright territory. Bonnyville looked as though they were going to add to their lead, however, their field goal attempt missed and the Commandos had the ball back with two minutes left.
Again the Voyageurs' defence came up big, forcing a punt from the Commandos. Bonnyville moved down the field on their final drive and set up for a field goal. They faked it and tried to run for the first down. It was unsuccessful and the ball was turned back over to the Commandos with 30 seconds left.
Wainwright tried one long pass and Bonnyville safety Lucas Church just missed the interception. Then on the very next play and Wainwright's last attempt, Church came up huge, picking off the pass for his second interception of the game, and sealing the win for his team.
Church and the rest of the Voyageurs defence were unstoppable against one of the league's top offences.
“They couldn't get a run in…they would try to sweep, we'd stop them, they tried to go up the middle, we stopped them even harder,” said Cheverie, regarding his teammates' rush defence, adding, “That was a huge game for Lucas (Church), getting those two big interceptions.”
The whole team was ecstatic to get the win said their coach Brian Walsh. “They played two hard games in the last two weeks…they work really hard together, they cheer for each other…the win was a really nice reward for them.”
Church agrees it was nice to get the win, he was happy to see the defence step up, but said it felt even better to see the whole team come together and work with each other to get the win. As for his two big interceptions, Church says it's just like practice. “Went up and caught that last one…just like in practice, now I just gotta do it in games.”
With the win, the Voyageurs will now head to Lloydminster next week for their first round playoff game. They are facing the Holy Rosary Crusaders; the game goes at 4 p.m.
Holy Rosary is one of the top teams in the league, but Church and his teammates will have something to say about that.
“It's going to be tough, it's usually one of the Lloyd teams in the finals…we're definitely looking to change that this year.”
