Thunder paralyzes Colts’ air attack: Move on to PFC final

In recent seasons, the Calgary Colts have been known as a pass-happy team. But on Sunday afternoon in the Queen City, the club’s season came to an abrupt end . . . largely due to the absence of an air attack.

The Colts bowed out, 17-6, to the host Regina Thunder in a Prairie Football Conference semifinal at Mosaic Stadium. It was the first playoff meeting between the two junior gridiron clubs, and the first playoff win in Thunder team history, but the Colts will be left lamenting — among other things — a lack of offensive finish and the waste of a magnificent defensive performance.

“The defence played spectacular. Awesome. Offensively, we just did not get the passing game rolling,” said Colts offensive co-ordinator Rob McNab. “We ran the ball very well (with 194 yards along the ground). But every time we got down to where we needed to be, to score, we couldn’t put it in.

“We wanted to establish the run, but at the same time you’ve got to be able to throw the ball, and what did we throw for? Fifty yards? (It was 71). We had guys open, and we didn’t hit them,” added McNab. “Every time we got something going, we’d get a penalty or an interception. It hurt us bad. We’d get a nice play, and boom — holding call.”

The Thunder now moves on to the PFC championship final on Sunday, Oct. 31 at Saskatoon against the Hilltops, who crushed the visiting Winnipeg Rifles 59-25 in Sunday’s other semi.

In one of Sunday’s key matchups at Regina, the Thunder offence versus the Colts defence, it was a case of the unstoppable force and the immovable object.

Regina entered the game with the most prolific offence in the PFC this year (337 points, or 42 per game), as well as the conference’s top passer (Reid Quest), top rusher (Mark Coons), and the two top receivers (Kolten Solomon and Jay Smith).

The Thunder struck for a pair of second-quarter touchdowns for a 16-4 lead — a 72-yard pitch-and-catch from Quest to Clayton Cooke, and an eight-yard toss from Quest to Mike Schienbein — but beyond that, the Colts’ vaunted defence held firm.

“In the second half, we shut ’em down. The kids played their hearts out, and you couldn’t ask any more than that,” said Colts defensive consultant John Stevens.

“(Quest) threw the ball well in the first half, made some yards. But in the second half, our defence just shut him down,” echoed McNab. “They turned the ball over for us, did things for us, and we just could not capitalize.”

Quest finished the day with 303 yards through the air, completing 18 of 31 passing attempts and those two TD tosses, while Coons was limited to 76 yards on the ground. Colts linebacker Zach McNeill (5[SUP]th[/SUP] year, Calgary, Lord Beaverbrook HS) was credited with six tackles and six assisted tackles, while cornerback Alex Saretsky (4[SUP]th[/SUP] year, Cochrane, Alta., Cochrane HS) had three tackles, a blocked kick, and a pass knockdown.

Calgary’s Cuong Thai Lieu (2[SUP]nd[/SUP] year, Nanaimo, B.C., John Barsby HS) rushed for 105 yards on 15 touches. and the Colts racked up those 194 rushing yards in total. But the offence was limited to a 35-yard field goal by Andrew Fabian (2[SUP]nd[/SUP] year, Tilley, Alta., Brooks Composite HS) and a single point on a missed 45-yarder in the second quarter. The Colts defence produced a safety in the final frame.

As for Calgary’s passing game, Clayton Masikewich (2[SUP]nd[/SUP] year, Calgary, John G. Diefenbaker HS) made good on just seven of 21 passing attempts for 71 yards, and a pair of picks. McNab said the club’s relative youth at quarterback — Jeremy Long (2[SUP]nd[/SUP] year, Calgary, Notre Dame HS), another junior sophomore, started the season behind centre — proved a factor this fall.

“I think there was a little too much inexperience for what we were after,” he said. “Defences are getting more and more complicated, and it’s quite the chore to keep up with them. Today, we didn’t keep up with what they were doing to us.”

Keith Kendal’s club now says goodbye to McNeill and receiver Ryan McDermit (5[SUP]th[/SUP] year, Cochrane, Alta., Cochrane HS), a pair of five-year Colts who’ve used up their junior eligibility. Also graduating from junior football are defensive back Morgan Willis-Jones (Calgary, Bishop Carroll HS), linebacker Wyatt Sutherland (Calgary, St. Mary’s HS), and receiver Andrew Jones (Calgary, Central Memorial HS), who all played four years in Colts red, white and blue.

Departing, too, are offensive lineman Spencer Wilson (Calgary, Henry Wise Wood HS), who spent three years with the Colts, and O-lineman Bart Archdekin (Calgary, Lord Beaverbrook HS), who spent one season with the club.

The Colts struggled mightily through the middle stretch of this past decade, but have now made PFC playoffs for three straight seasons and established themselves as legitimate prairie contenders.

Still, some believe that the club had more potential this season than a second straight one-and-done PFC playoff exit.

“I do believe that. I thought that going into the season, that we had a lot in the tank,” said McNab. “The defence proved that today. Offensively . . . we just didn’t get it going.”

by Todd Kimberley
Calgary Colts Media Coordinator