By Stacey Lavallie
Black Press reporter
Despite the final score of 64-0 at the end of the fourth quarter, and not in the Junior Broncs' favour, coach Todd Lewis considers the Saturday match against the Stettler Cougars a demonstration of “resilience” and a success.
“I am really proud of how they rallied in the second half,” Lewis said of the Sept. 19 game in Stettler. “The game was a success, even if it wasn't a success on the scoreboard. Resilience was the name of the game.”
By the end of the first half, the Broncs were down 56-0, Stettler having run seven plays by them to create a hefty divide. In the second half of the game, though, the Broncs' defense firmed up, denying the Cougars multiple attempts to gain points, limiting the home team to one touch down.
“They have a really solid team,” Lewis said of the Cougars. “They're a very large team. It looks more like a high school team.”
The Cougars also benefit from a Peewee program, something Ponoka doesn't have at present. That means the team has more experience. A bit of bus trouble on the way to Stettler also gave the Broncs less time to mentally prepare, Lewis admitted.
The team's next game is Sept. 26 at Lindsay Thurber in Red Deer. The following week the team has a bye, then plays at home on Oct. 10.