The Olds High School Spartans football team outlasted their counterparts from George McDougall High School of Airdrie 18-7 on Thursday at Normie Kwong Park.
After a slow start in which the Spartans were down 7-1 after the first quarter, the team punched it in from a few yards out and converted the touchdown with a little over seven minutes left in the second quarter to take an 8-7 lead.
At about 4:31 of the third quarter, the Spartans kicked a field goal to extend the lead to 11-7. The Spartans finished off the Mustangs with less than two minutes remaining in the game, when the Spartans punted and forced a turnover when the Mustang receiver fumbled the ball at about the Mustang three-yard line Three plays later, the Spartans scored a major and converted it on the ensuing kick.
Throughout the game, the Spartan defence put pressure on the Mustang offence, forcing several turnovers and giving the Spartans good field position.
George Grant, Spartans coach, said following the game that the defence was the difference in the game, giving the offence great chances to put points on the board.
“Our defence definitely held us in the game and … turned the ball over for us in really good field position, giving the offence the opportunity to continue to grow … and hopefully gain the confidence that they need in order for us to compete on a regular basis,” he said.
Grant said he was happy the Spartans only committed one penalty in the first half. He was less impressed with numerous penalties in the second half, costing the Spartans better field position at several points.
“But our special teams really stepped up in the second half, allowing us to get back a couple of punts when they fumbled them and allowed us the opportunity to give us some really good field position,” he said.
Overall, Grant said the game should provide the players with confidence as the season progresses, and that all the practice time is starting to pay off.
“We are achieving what it is that the goal was at the beginning of the season and the kids are really starting to buy in,” he said.
The Spartans' next game is a 1 p.m. start at Normie Kwong Park against the Memorial Composite High School Marauders from Stony Plain on Sept. 22.
