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Written by Dylan Purcell
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Saturday, November 28 2009, 11:41 PM |
In the final game of the football season, Braden Patrick of Raymond watched a potential game-tying touchdown pass hit his hands before bouncing to the ground.
As the ball fell incomplete, Brock Ramias, in his green and gold-horned football helmet, cheered wildly. Ramias skipped across the field with a broad smile playing across his face.
Patrick, laying in the snow in the end-zone, had an equally wide smile and was shaking his head.
Not in disappointment, but in mocking disbelief. It was the second pass to take fall near the Raymond Comets wide receiver and the second pass which would have taken a small miracle to catch.
That both players were laughing and joking in the post-game bliss was a testament to the spirit shown at the first Southern Alberta Minor Football Association all-star game. Team White won 14-6, but Team Black’s march down the field in the final minute of the game warmed the fans who moved from the U of L Stadium to the Civic Centre Field Saturday afternoon for the event.
The always excitable bantam Bulldogs’ head coach Brad Brown coached Team Black and said the all-star game was everything it’s supposed to be.
“The kids just want to play football so when you tell them there’s going to be pizza after and they get another jersey and they get to play with some of the best players in the league, they’re going to be all over that,” said Brown. “This was a great day. Never mind we had to change to this field. Never mind that it’s cold out here, this is what the kids come out for and they had a great time.”
SAMFA’s commissioner, Marty Woolf, came up with the idea for the game and said out of 65 inviteds sent out, 62 players accepted and 60 showed up for game day. Add in a host of excellent support from businesses in the community and minor football won this game just as much as Team White.
“It been great day for it,” said Woolf. “I’m happy to see the crowd and the kids are having a great time.”
There were even a handful of highlights after the game turned to four-down football for the second half. A scoreless first half prompted the change and Team White took a lead with some great power running from Medicine Hat’s Braden Mann.
But when Pincher Creek’s Cord Delinte fell on his back and caught the football which landed shortly after him, the suspense took centre stage. Taber’s Brandon Karl, feeling confident from hitting the prone Delinte, hit Patrick for a 35-yard gain before Delinte snagged another one. This time, he caught the ball while upright but fell in the snowy field at the three-yard line.
A few sacks and a change of possession and Patrick watched a pair of throws just miss him and the game was over. Except for a few shouts of “We’ll play another!” it was time for pizza and the association’s awards banquet.
“This is so great to see,” said Brown, who has been involved in minor and high school football for 22 years. “It’s one of those things these kids will remember forever. Just being able to come out and throw the ball around, have some fun and really enjoy the game.”
However the last word goes to Patrick, the hard-luck wide receiver.
“Yeah, it was fun,” he said while standing next to Ramias. “I’d play again.”
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