ESTEVAN - The Estevan Comprehensive School Elecs' football team's season came to an end Saturday in a 38-8 loss to the host Swift Current Colts in their league's consolation game.
Coach Mark Schott said the score didn't reflect how close the game was. It was a 10-8 game at half-time, and ECS had a chance to take the lead at the end of the second quarter, but they came up short on three attempts from within the Swift Current 15-yard line.
"Our offence moved the ball better than we have all year," said Schott.
Preston McGuire scored the Elecs' lone touchdown on a short run in the first quarter that pulled ECS to within two.
"We had a couple of big pass plays that brought us into the red zone, and we ended up punching the ball in," said Schott.
The Elecs finished the game with more than 370 yards of offence, including 312 yards passing, despite playing most of the contest without leading receiver Dorian Sifton, who was injured during the Elecs' touchdown drive.
Tristan Tober played most of the game at quarterback and Corbin Barker came in late in the game.
"Scoring some more points would have been helpful, but we had a lot of success in the air," said Schott.
On the defensive side of the ball, ECS forced six turnovers with two interceptions, three fumble recoveries and a turnover on downs.
The score was 17-8 with seven minutes to play in the fourth quarter. ECS gambled on third down in their own end a couple of times in a last-ditch effort to put up some more points. Those efforts didn't pay off, and Swift Current promptly scored each time to pull away.
The game was the last one for the eight Grade 12s on the team: wide receiver Tyson Czernick, wide receiver/defensive backs JT Schrader and Caleb Bresciani, offensive/defensive lineman Hamisi Kassanga, offensive lineman Mike Schroeder, defensive lineman Marcus Hurren, and linebackers Thomas Harrison and Jayren Schulz. Some of these players had key roles on the team, Schott said, and the loss of the linesmen and the linebackers will be felt in particular.
It was also Schott's last game as the head coach after 12 years with the program. He will remain involved with the team in a liaison role by managing registration and other tasks.
"I made a decision to move into that role and to free up a little bit more time for my family and other endeavours. It was a tough decision and it was an emotional week, but it was a decision that I thought was best," said Schott.
Chris Beyerle, who has been the defensive co-ordinator for the past few years, will step into the head coaching role.
"He and I started with the Elecs football program at the same time 13 years ago. He started as a strength and conditioning coach with the team and moved up various ranks."
Beyerle knows the program well and has some excellent ideas to try with the team, and Schott is confident Beyerle will do an excellent job.
Schott said he enjoyed his time coaching the Elecs, and he could see the progress the team made this season, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
