MOOSE JAW — It all came down to literally a game of inches and what could have been as the Moose Jaw Bulldogs defeated the Moose Jaw Spartans 26 - 12 in Kinsmen Moose Jaw Minor Football League U12 division semifinal action.
A few more inches could have tied the game as the Bulldogs defence held at the one-yard line or the Bulldogs got a much-needed first down with inches to spare.
If there are football gods out there who intervened, their thumbs were more often than not tipping the scales in the Bulldogs' favour.
That’s how close the matchup was.
“They’re a good team and we were a little bit worried coming into this game,” Moose Jaw Bulldogs head coach Jodi Throssel told MJ Independent in the post-game interview. “We knew our players could step up and do the job.”
Asked about the 13 - 0 lead at halftime for the Bulldogs that was erased to a single point Throssell said it was expected.
“I knew the Spartans would never give up. They would not go easily. So we expected it to be a close game too. We got lucky there and got an extra touchdown towards the end of the game that really helped us out,” he said.
The key to the Bulldogs success said it was a combination of factors.
“Our offence had some really big runs and a couple of good passing plays but our defence we have got to give them credit tonight. They stepped up and laid down the law.”
Defensively the Bulldogs shone in the third quarter when they managed to stop the Spartans on the one-yard line. A touchdown would have tied the game but the Bulldogs' defence held.
Another major play for the defence was the almost continual solid blitzing and hard hits which hampered the Spartans well running game.
“We’ve got some kids that can sure hit hard. I’d like to mention Ryder Lanoie, Andrew Lazurko and Griffin Audette those kids hit hard.”
A major factor in the Bulldogs defensive strategy was to send in the blitz.
The blitzing factor hit at Spartans quarterback Leo Montgomery’s running game.
“I know Leo can toss the ball pretty good too but I know for sure they like to run the ball and we were ready for that today.”
Jax Throssell’s three rushing touchdowns and one pass for a touchdown powered the Bulldogs.
“Yeah, Jax he is just a reliable little bulldog. He doesn’t go down easily and he’s a pretty quick little kid…he’s a big part of our team for sure. We rely on him quite a bit.”
The Bulldogs must now get ready for the U12 league final against the tough Moose Jaw Lions or the equally tough Estevan Chargers.
“We just have to prepare this week. Do some adjusting for the next team that’s going to be in our way,” he said.
“They (the Chargers and the Lions) are both really strong teams so they both gave really good running games so honestly anything is possible. But we look forward to whomever it is we are meeting up with next week,” Throssel said.
Despite the first half where they trailed the Spartans never quit during the game.
“Yes again like last game we had a chance to score on the one yard line and they stopped us again,” Moose Jaw Spartans head coach Brock Montgomery said. “I would say they have a great goal line defence because he stopped us in both games on the one yard line.”
If they hadn’t been stopped at the one yard line, Montgomery said that the game could’ve turned out a lot different.
“It would’ve been a tie score, but it didn’t happen that way, but the boys battled in the second half and gave us a chance. We had a chance late in the third quarter we were done by one so what more can you ask for?”
The Bulldogs blitzing was something the Spartans had to adapt to.
“They started blitzing hard on us and it’s actually got us our quarterback sweep out of that. They were bringing heavy pressure so we so we kind of snuck Leo out on them and got the touchdown to get us close.”
Asked about the Bulldogs coming at the Spartans really hard Montgomery responded “they are a very good team. They have a lot of weapons and a few players who do a good job on the defence and don’t miss many. The little Ryder Lanoie is a hell of a player.”
“I feel the differences a first down here a first down there is the real difference in how the game turned out,” he said when asked about where the Bulldogs were able to manufacture a victory.
“It’s pretty much the difference between these two teams.”
There were a couple of turning points during the game.
One was a late game fumble where the Spartans drive was extinguished where they could’ve went down and scored a touchdown.
The other was the go line stand by the Bulldogs defence when the Spartans were on the one yard line.
Montgomery said he didn’t see a major turning point in the game just small little things that the Bulldogs were able to build upon and the Spartans fell behind on.
The one yard stand by the Bulldogs defence helped set the tempo that the Spartans had a hard time getting over.
“It was a big momentum swing. You know the team you try to tell them and not allow to get them down, but they know… When you don’t punch that ball into the end zone, it’s tough.”
Despite being knocked out of the playoffs in the semifinal, Montgomery said the Bulldogs had a great season.
“It was a good season. I mean, I love coaching this this league this group they get so much better each game and week. This team tonight like I said is not the team that played in the first game (of the season). They are a much better team than the beginning of the season.”
“That’s all we can ask for as coaches,”Montgomery said.
He is especially proud of the offensive contingent as so, many of them were first-year rookies with the team and it Points to great things next year.
Despite being eliminated from the playoffs, the Spartans now move onto a bowl game next weekend.
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