The St. Albert Fury beat themselves instead of the Edmonton Chargers in Saturday’s first-place showdown in bantam football.
“Penalties killed us. If we didn’t have those penalties it would’ve been a way closer game,” said Fury linebacker John Brouse after the 48-14 blowout at the Riel Park turf field.
The Chargers led 13-0 after the first quarter, 26-6 at halftime and 34-14 after three quarters.
“We had a good game, it was just execution and stupid penalties in the first half,” said Fury quarterback Shaydon Philip. “We were good in the second half though.”
Both teams were undefeated in four games in the Johnny Bright division in the Capital District Minor Football Association.
“They’re a good team,” Philip said. “We have a good bunch of athletes too. Our defence and offence is good. We have great coaching. We just couldn’t get it together today.”
The Fury put points on the board in the second quarter after Felix Mba picked off a pass and returned it for a short gain to the Chargers’ 30. On third and four, shifty outside running by Seth Waselenchuk moved the Fury to the eight. On third and goal from the one, Brouse lined up at fullback and plowed his way into the end zone with 4:54 left in the half.
The third TD by the Chargers was set up by a fumble recovery at the Fury 53. On second and 19, a swing pass sprung the receiver free down the sideline in front of the Fury bench to make it 19-6.
The Fury fell apart after Waselenchuk was stopped for a loss on third and five at their own 38. On back-to-back plays the Fury were flagged for unnecessary roughness and then rough play on the quarterback after an incomplete pass, resulting in a player ejection. The penalties put the Chargers at the one and they punched the ball in with 63 seconds remaining until the break.
The second half kicked off with a TD-saving tackle by Andrew Johnson at the Fury 46. On third down the Chargers faked the punt but the Fury stood their ground and took over possession at their 35. On second and six, Philip bolted into open space along the sideline and a couple of key blocks propelled him to the Chargers’ 31. On third and four, the Fury faked the run and Waselenchuk reeled in Philip’s pass at the 11. Three plays later, Philip was under pressure in the pocket before hitting Dylan Shorten standing behind the goal line with a four-yard TD pass. Philip also ran in the two-point convert as the Fury closed the gap to 26-14.
The Chargers marched the ensuing kick off 95 yards, culminating with a one-yard TD scamper with 1:42 to go before quarter time. Their two-point convert pass was successful. The drive included an unnecessary roughness penalty against the Fury at the end of a long run that gave the Chargers a first down at St. Albert’s 26.
The Chargers closed out the win with TD runs of 19 yards on third and two and 72 yards.
“Their speed was the difference. We knew it was coming too,” said Brouse, a Grade 9 Sturgeon Heights student.
The Fury struggled to put first downs together except during their two scoring drives.
“We couldn’t get any execution going,” said Philip, a Grade 9 Lorne Akins student who was constantly under the gun from the Chargers’ pass rush. “We have a big play we use with Seth and they completely had him. They had the outside shut down against him.”
Last year in the tier II league final the Chargers posted a convincing 33-7 win against the Fury as both teams finished the season with identical 4-6 records.
“It’s the same coaches and players, we just have lots of heart this year,” said Philip, 14. “Our coaches are coaching us amazingly. Last year our coaches were good too but our players couldn’t get into the playbooks.”
The last game before the tier I/11 playoff round is Sunday against the Spruce Grove Cougars (2-2). Kickoff is 12:30 p.m. in Spruce Grove.
“We have to execute better and play hard and not take those penalties. If we do that we should be good,” said Brouse, 13.
