Spartans Advance To Finals
A Quick Look at the final 48 - 0 score it was a cake walk for the Spartans over top of the Bulldogs.
The Spartans did dominate the third and fourth quarter but the first half of the U12 semi-final in the Kinsmen Moose Jaw Minor Football League was anything but a cake walk.
The Bulldogs dug in and managed to deploy their defence to bottle up the Spartans.
The Bulldogs’ defence was so strong it could be argued the game in the first quarter was up for grabs.
But in the second half the Spartans used their speed and experience to put the game away.
The score at the end of the first quarter was Spartans 6 and Bulldogs 0.
The score at half time was Spartans 20 and Bulldogs 0. With the Spartans scoring a touchdown the last minute of the half.
An attempted ankle tackle is just shy of the mark - MJ Independent photo
For Spartans head coach Brock Montgomery it was a good game that despite the final score had the potential of going either way.
“It was a good game. The score kind of got away in the end but that was a couple of big plays that broke loose,” Montgomery said.
Their Bulldogs’ defence was a big surprise on the field that with a few moves had become incredibly tough.
“Their defence played really good especially in the first half. It was kind of back and forth with a couple of scores on them. It was kind of neutral for a little bit. I think their defence played good and made our team work for it,” he said.
“All in all I think they played well.”
Montgomery said the Spartans expected the Bulldogs to make changes - especially to the defence - which were effective.
“They moved some guys around from the last time we played them. They made us earn every yard,”
Montgomery said he didn’t think the Spartans started slow but rather it was because of how well the Bulldogs played, especially in the first half.
“They challenged us and our boys had to work for it. Obviously you want to move the ball a little better to start a game but I think it’s a tribute to their defence.”
Quarterback just gets rid of the ball - MJ Independent photo
Despite the strong effort the loss was a tough one for the defending champions and underdog Bulldogs.
“It was honestly, despite the score, our best game of the season,” Josh Sigurdson head coach of the Bulldogs said.
“I couldn’t be prouder of the kids. Yes the score was very similar (to the last time we played the Spartans) but it was a completely different game.”
The Bulldogs were in the entire game and had the Spartans guessing the entire game what to expect, he said.
The game points to good things next year for the Bulldogs.
Sigurdson predicted a Spartans championship.
“They’re a great team. They’re probably going win next week and it’s going to be exciting for them to do it . They have a lot of veterans we have a lot of rookies but some of our rookies were our best players tonight.”
“It’s going to be an exciting next year for the Bulldogs,” he said.
A Spartans player sits down as his twisted ankle is on ice to prevent swelling - MJ Independent photo
For the Spartans they advance to next weekend’s U12 division final against the winner of Saturday’s MJ Lions versus Weyburn Ravens.
Most observers are expecting a Lions’ victory but Weyburn could surprise.
“We have to have a really tough week of practice. We have to be ready for anything and hopefully the weather holds for us,” Montgomery said.
“Having good practices and hopefully people show up and the weather holds off.”
