The icy weather conditions may have been as miserable as both the peewee and bantam Innisfail Cyclones' seasons, but not everyone saw it that way.
As Alysse White, in her #22 jersey, wandered toward the dressing room following the peewees' 32-0 loss against the Sylvan Lake Bears Oct. 20, she had a big smile on her face.
“It was cold,” she said, as if that was half the joy of it. “It was fun.”
As football winds down with winter roaring full steam ahead, players have been soaking up the last moments of a season that's been all about rebuilding.
Peewee Sam Cuff was active all over the field said head coach Wally Genz, and Adam McMillan really stepped into the role of quarterback.
“Usually quarterback is not a first-year player type position,” Genz said. “He had the skill and mental toughness to power through.”
While the peewees have a chance to advance, with a semifinal game coming up against Stettler, the bantams' 56-0 loss on Oct. 20 against Drumheller was their final outing of the season.
Still, facing a team that racked up eight personal fouls in the first 15 minutes and not retaliating, the Cyclones were able to end the season with their dignity intact.
“It was probably one of the dirtiest games I've been around,” Genz said. “There would have been some answering to do if our guys retaliated.”
Innisfail started the game with 17 players, but due to injuries they were down to 15 by the end of the game.
“They knew it was going to be an uphill battle,” Genz said. “The kids felt it was a good game.”
