LCI Rams top Raymond Comets in Tier 1 regional final
LCI TO HOST PROVINCIAL QUARTER-FINAL NEXT SATURDAY
In a defensive battle, Callum Hyland delivered the key play and the now LCI Rams will play next Saturday.
Under chilly conditions Thursday night at the University of Lethbridge Stadium, the Rams downed the Raymond Comets 17-7 in the Southern Alberta High School Football League Tier I regional final in front of a crowd of more than 1,000.
With the Rams nursing a 10-7 lead late in a scoreless second half and the Ty Mazutinec-backed Comets moving the chains down to the LCI 34-yard line, Hyland stepped up with a key read for an interception he nearly returned for a pick-six with 2:41 remaining.
The Grade 12 halfback didn’t quite make it to paydirt, but the key interception allowed the Rams to add an insurance touchdown as Rams quarterback Zach Jacobs plunged in from seven yards out to round out the scoring.
The Rams advance to host the Alberta Schools Athletic Association quarterfinals next Saturday afternoon against a Calgary opponent to be determined.
“We were expecting the run up the middle,” said Hyland of his timely interception.
“But coach (defensive co-ordinator Rick) Gilson said we have to play tough coverage and give them nothing. So went into a man (defence).
“I’ve always learned that to find where it’s going to you have to watch the quarterback sometimes. So I cheated, watched his eyes and once I saw his side I knew I could get a little eager. I sat back and waited for him to throw it and once he threw it, I knew I could jump it. So I just planted, went as fast as I could and it turned out the right way, thank goodness.”
The Comets struck first with 48 seconds left in the first quarter when Mazutinec scored on a one-yard third-and-goal run.
LCI tied it with 3:08 left in the first half on a one-yard run from Will Boehme and went up 10-7 at the half on an 18-yard field goal from Jace Edwards at the buzzer.
That’s how it stayed throughout the second half until Hyland’s pick allowed Jacobs to complete the drive with the insurance touchdown.
“I don’t even care about the interception,” said Hyland. “We needed that score, for sure, to secure the game. We needed that and to show we are destined to do something in this game and we have to keep going. We have to show the province we’re not here to quit. That we are competitors.”
“It was a great play,” added Gilson of Hyland’s interception. “He did what he was supposed to do and everybody did what they were supposed to do and when 12 guys do what they’re supposed to, things work out for you, and they did.”
With Grade 10 pivot Mazutinec driving the Raymond offence, the Rams late touchdown was much needed, said Gilson.
“The thing of it is with a kid like Maz at quarterback, one of the best Grade 10 quarterbacks I’ve seen in my life — and I’ve done a
little bit of football in my life — they’re one play away from seven points every single snap of the game. So with all that, a little bit of cushion allows you to breathe just a little bit.”
It also allows the Rams to play a little more as well, and as hosts next weekend.
“They get to celebrate this, but all year we’ve talked about snapping the wrist band,” said
Gilson. “You make a bad play, that’s how long you get to think about it and when you make a good play, that’s how long you get to think about it. So you snap the wristband and you move on. We won today, we get to play next week. Snap the wristband, get ready for whoever we play next week and on we go.”
Follow @DWoodardHerald on Twitter