ST. PAUL – The St. Paul Bengals proved themselves a titan this season.
After defeating the Bonnyville Bandits for the Wheatland Bantam Football League title, the Bengals welcomed the Edmonton Seahawks to town on Nov. 11.
In a showdown against the Edmonton Seahawks at the St. Paul Regional High School field, the Bengals immediately dominated the early game, ending the first half with a 20-point lead, 28-8 over the Seahawks.
During the third quarter, the Seahawks became a wall, preventing the Bengals from scoring. But the Bengals played patiently, slowly pushing the Seahawks back, and with just three minutes left on the clock, the Bengals scored a touchdown, widening the lead 34-8.
In the last quarter, the Seahawks responded with a touchdown of their own to close the gap, but the Bengals, unfazed, responded with their own touchdown. Ultimately, the Bengals won with a score of 41-16 – earning themselves a spot at the bantam 9-a-side Tier 1 championship.
The perfect season by the Bengals has been well-earned, says head coach Derek Zapisocki, commending his team for the win. “They played hard this year.”
For the provincial title, the Bengals are challenged by an equally mighty foe.
On Nov. 11, the Grande Prairie Broncos defeated the Bonnyville Bandits 21-9, which means the Broncos will be facing the Bengals for the provincial bantam title.
The Broncos are also undefeated this season. They beat the Peace River Prospectors for the semi-final of the Peace Country Bantam Football League (PCBFL), with an overwhelming score of 37-0, before defeating the Grande Prairie Raiders 24-15 for the championship.
The Broncos are also the reigning champions of the Peace Country Bantam Football League Bantam Bowl since 2018.
On Nov. 18, the Bengals will host the Broncos at 1 p.m. The Bengals invite the community to come out and cheer on the team.
