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Bantam Broncs post a 36-27 road victory

Ponoka gets back on track in second half
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Bantam Broncs LJ Nieviadomy looks downfield on one of many huge runs in the huge second half comeback Oct. 5 in Springbank. Photo by Naomi McKinney

The Ponoka bantam Broncs survived the first half to score 30 unanswered points the rest of the way for a huge 36-27 road victory in Springbank on Oct. 5.

“We weren’t able to execute basic plays on offense and our defense wasn’t playing with intensity. We dug ourselves a hole and had zero momentum,” said head coach Todd Lewis.

“We had been in situation before during the season, so at halftime, we talked about the mistakes and how the second half needed to run. After some tense sentences and a broken clipboard, the team was ready to play.”

And did they ever, recovering an onside kick to open the half before going down for a touchdown. That was followed up by the defence coming up big with stuff of Springbank on their next possession and then engineering another scoring drive.

“Those plays were a huge momentum swing and that continued right to the end.

“We started the second half with some fire and belief in our hearts that we could actually play. We built on that with execution,” Lewis said.

“Every positive play we had added to the hype our team was experiencing until it felt like we were invincible. Football is a mental game — how a team feels dictates how it plays.”

Lewis added the adversity in the first half was a learning experience and the resilience of the team in the second half will be invaluable come playoff time.

The bantam Broncs will close out their home schedule on Oct. 12 (10 a.m. kickoff) versus Red Deer’s Lindsay Thurber, with Lewis expecting a stronger challenge.

“They have a pretty strong defensive line and passing game, but I think we match up well. I expect us to play like our second half,” he said.

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With the team’s regular quarterback out for the season, Brock Ronnie has stepped up, just like on this pass play Oct. 5. Photo by Naomi McKinney
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Bantam Broncs Emily McMillan goes outside on this run versus Springbank Oct. 5. Photo by Naomi McKinney
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LJ Nieviadomy scampers through a bunch of Springbank defenders on his way to the end zone during Ponoka’s second half comeback Oct. 5. Photo by Naomi McKinney
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Nate Sluggett from the bantam Broncs carries the mail on this tough run up the middle Oct. 5. Photo by Naomi McKinney
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LJ Nieviadomy gets a decent block from a teammate to break out on another long run Oct. 5. Photo by Naomi McKinney
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Ponoka’s Erik Mathieu runs hard up the middle in the Oct. 4 contest that featured little offence against a pair of tough defences. Photo by Deanna French
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Broncs Parker Rice was one of the home side’s big guns on defence against Stettler Oct. 4. Photo by Deanna French
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The PSC Broncs lost their home game 6-2 for Stettler on Oct. 4. Jordan Young gets corralled on the one of the many punt returns in the close, defensive game. Photo by Deanna French
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The Ponoka Broncs honoured their large list of graduating players prior to the start of the club’s final regular season home game Oct. 4. Photo by Deanna French