The Bonnyville Bandits perfect season has come to an end after a heartbreaking overtime loss to the St. Paul Bengals in the Wheatland Bantam Football League (WBFL) championship final.
The Bandits welcomed the Bengals to a packed Walsh Field on Saturday, Nov. 4.
With temperatures dipping below minus 15-degrees, snow falling, and wind swirling, it was apparent early-on weather would play a factor in the team's gameplans.
Conditions all but eliminated the two teams' ability to move the ball through the air. Meanwhile on the ground, neither defence was willing to give an inch. The first quarter ended scoreless.
“This game was all about battling back and forth. Neither team could really mount a challenge offensively, and the throwing game is always kind of iffy in these conditions,” said Bandits head coach Mickey Fagnan.
In the second quarter, the weather began to play a bigger factor, with the ball trading hands more than five-times due to fumbles.
The score was still tied heading into halftime. The Bandits backfield broke the ice. Lead by two of their top performers on the season, they marched the field for the game's first touchdown, making the score 7-0 at the half.
“Our tailbacks, Duncan Critch and Kelton McAuley earned that touchdown. All of these guys battled all night. It's this cold and there's helmets and plastic crashing, and ice everywhere, it doesn't take long for the hands and feet to freeze,” said Fagnan.
The game remained close throughout the second half, with the Bengals winning the battle for field position. After being denied by the Bandits defence inside the 10-yard line on multiple occasions, the Bengals broke through and tied the game with four minutes to go.
Screams from the crowd grew as the intensity picked up on the field. Both teams had chances to win the game in the last four minutes.
First, the Bengals marched the ball into Bonnyville territory before being stopped by the Bandits defence on the 30-yard line. With less than two minutes on the clock and the chance to win the game on the line, the Bandits offence took to the field.
A rare 20-yard connection in the air from Bandits quarterback Levi Nelson to Duncan Critch, put the local team in good position, but the Bengals defence answered.
Ultimately, four quarters wasn't enough to solve the WBFL championship match, and the teams headed into overtime.
“It was exciting, and I'm sure it was entertaining. There was nothing but adrenaline out there, it was a great feeling to be a part of that,” said Bandits lineman Colby Ives.
Under the overtime format, each team was guaranteed one possession starting with the ball on the 35-yard line. Whoever made the most of their possession would come away champions.
The Bengals received the ball first, after winning the coin toss. A missed block proved costly for the Bandits as the Bengals rattled off a 30-yard run to open the drive.
Two plays later, they were able to punch it in, putting the pressure on the Bandits offence to respond. The weather once again played a factor as Nelson attempted to throw for a game extending first down, only to have the ball slip from his hands.
“It's quite something for these two stellar teams to end up tied at the end of the game. Overtime proved that if you miss a block, or miss a tackle, it'll cost you. St. Paul played a great game and we battled as hard as we could, but we fell a little short in the end,” said Fagnan.
Bonnyville gave it their all, but in the end, it was the Bengals who raised the WBFL trophy at Walsh Field.
While proud of their performance, there was no hiding the disappointment for the young team. They entered the matchup with a 5-0 record and aspirations of a provincial championship.
“We gave it our everything, and we fought until the end. Our defence played amazing, but St. Paul had a few good plays that got them into the end-zone. We just couldn't show up on offence,” said McAuley.
The loss will hurt for now, but when the Bandits look back on the season, they'll be able to do so fondly.
Over the course of five unbeaten games, and a wild WBFL championship, the players build bonds that will last off the field, and learned valuable life lessons along the way.
Though it wasn't the outcome he hoped for, Fagnan showed pride in how far the Bandits had come.
“When I put the entire season into perspective, these are such character boys and girls. We teach these principles day-in and day-out, and we were really excited to see how they bonded together. Sometimes life throws you a curveball and you have to deal with that, but I'm very happy with what we put out on this field.”
