Colts’ playoff road will start in Regina


The Calgary Colts’ playoff itinerary is now set in stone . . . and it calls for a rubber match in Regina.

The Colts (5-3) closed out their 2010 Prairie Football Conference regular season on Saturday night with a 27-24 loss to the homestanding Edmonton Wildcats at Edmonton’s Clarke Park. The defending PFC champion Wildcats (3-5) had no chance of making the playoffs, but they did manage to throw an effective monkey wrench into the Colts’ hopes of finishing second overall and hosting the Regina Thunder in a conference semifinal.

Thanks to Saturday’s decision, the Colts will finish third and climb aboard the bus for a road trip to the Queen City — and a semifinal at Mosaic Stadium on either Oct. 23 or 24 against the Thunder, who carry a 5-2 record into their regular-season finale on Sunday, Oct. 17 against the Winnipeg Rifles in the ’Peg.

“We wanted to finish the regular season on a high note,” said Colts offensive co-ordinator Rob McNab. “I mean, it’s not the end of the world. And chances are that we were going to Regina (for a semifinal) anyway. We’ve just got to come to play next week.”

Calgary and Regina split their 2010 PFC regular-season series with one win apiece. The Thunder piled it on 59-10 at Mosaic Stadium on Aug. 29, while the Colts countered with a 31-21 win at McMahon Stadium on Sept. 26.

The Colts, who led 10-6 at the half and trailed 13-10 after three quarters, were bolstered by a 43-yard, second-quarter interception return for a touchdown from defensive back Alex Saretsky (4[SUP]th[/SUP] year, Cochrane, Alta., Cochrane HS), who had two picks on the night.
They also got a 92-yard kickoff return for a TD, courtesy of defensive back Robbie Morgan (4[SUP]th[/SUP] year, Calgary, John G. Diefenbaker HS), in the fourth quarter.

On the offensive side of the ball, Jeremy Long (2[SUP]nd[/SUP] year, Calgary, Notre Dame HS), who came on in relief of starting quarterback Clayton Masikewich (2[SUP]nd[/SUP] year, Calgary, John G. Diefenbaker HS), scampered in for a five-yard major in that final frame. Andrew Fabian (2[SUP]nd[/SUP] year, Tilley, Alta., Brooks Composite HS), who’d made good on a 42-yard field goal in the first half, hit the upright on a 52-yard attempt with two minutes left, and was wide on a 50-yard try in the dying seconds, as the Colts tried desperately to tie the score.

Overall, said McNab, it was an uneven effort for the Colts’ offence.

“The first half, not too bad. Third quarter, terrible. Actually, the whole second half, we didn’t move the ball very well,” said McNab. “Our running game was OK, but we just couldn’t get anything going with our passing game.”

Masikewich finished with four completions on 11 attempts for 63 yards and an interception. Ben Hnatiuk (2[SUP]nd[/SUP] year, Calgary, Centennial HS) was the Colts’ top receiver, with 60 yards on three grabs, while Cuong Thai Lieu (2[SUP]nd[/SUP] year, Nanaimo, B.C., John Barsby HS) was seven yards short of the century mark, chewing up 93 yards on 13 carries.

The Wildcats finished the game with 395 yards of net offence, including 283 in rushing and 132 in passing. The Colts mustered 235 yards of net offence — 141 yards through the air, 155 along the ground.

“We knew it was going to be a hard-hitting game, but I think we left the defence on the field a little too long,” said McNab. “In the third quarter, the offence fumbled it twice and our special teams fumbled it once. They had short fields, and ate up clock. It wasn’t good.”

By Todd Kimberley
Media Coordinator
Calgary Colts

Advocating for football prospects one story at a time.

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