The Bellerose Bulldogs were their own worst enemy on the football field in Thursday's tie.
"We played well as a group but costly things cost us the game," co-captain Cam Joseph told the Gazette after the 6-6 stalemate with the Archbishop Jordan Scots at Riel Park field. "We have to learn from our mistakes if we want to be a good team this year."
A combination of ill-timed penalties and glaring turnovers contributed to the disappointing outcome in the season opener in the metro Edmonton league's Carr conference.
"It's unacceptable," stated head coach Chad Hill. "If the defence doesn't give up a touchdown we must win the game."
The solution is simple, he added.
"If we cut out the penalties and turnovers, we'll be successful."
The Bulldogs looked like a beaten team after battling the Scots to a draw.
"It was a game we should've won," Hill said. "We don't like ties, and judging by the reaction of the boys, it feels more like a loss."
It was also the team's first game this year, aside from the trip to California last month to play the Santana Sultans under American rules football.
"We were counting on being, I guess, a little further along at this point, especially on the offensive side. We were really hoping we could play last Thursday [against Harry Ainlay in St. Albert, but the Edmonton public league team didn't show up as scheduled for the exhibition] and that would've helped us out, but no excuses whatsoever; I give credit to their defence for playing a good game," Hill said. "Archbishop Jordan is going to be very competitive this year. They have some very good players and they're talented."
All the Scots could muster were field goals from 18 yards at the end of the first quarter to take the lead, and from 22 yards with 3:53 to play to even the score.
"Defensively, I felt we were ready," Hill said. "I don't care who we play; I expect our defence to be the best defence on the field. Tonight they didn't give up a touchdown and what should've been a win turned into a tie."
The defensive unit did its part in support of the offence to keep the score close.
"Defence busted their [butts] and played 110 per cent," said Joseph, a vocal leader and a dominating Grade 12 defensive end. "I guess we didn't execute at times as a team. We had stupid penalties and made stupid plays."
Gunslinger Tayler White was intercepted twice while showing flashes of greatness quarterbacking the Bellerose offence. His second pick was grabbed in the endzone with 10:14 left in the game, after the Bulldogs were awarded the ball at the 20 of the Scots, when their punter dropped to one knee to field a low snap from centre.
"Our passing game is a work in progress but White did throw some nice passes," Hill said.
A botched punt return and a lost fumble on offence added to the turnover woes.
"A couple of penalties also cost us field position," Hill said.
Defensive struggle
In the first quarter, the Scots recovered a fumble by White at their 50 as the Grade 12 Bulldog scrambled out of the pocket in search of a first down. The turnover was converted into a field goal.
In the second quarter, a quarterback sack by Lewis Biamonte kept the Scots pinned in their end, resulting in a punt that gave the Bulldogs excellent field position. After a first down catch by fullback Devin Kondro, the Scots were penalized for roughing the passer and the ball was put on the Scots' five. On second and goal from the three, an illegal procedure call against the Bulldogs didn't help. Unable to crack the goal line, the Bulldogs settled for a 15-yard field goal by rugby player Robert Blunden with 5:06 left until halftime.
In the third quarter, Bellerose put together a nice drive from the Scots' 54, highlighted by a 14-yard scamper by White and a big 19-yard catch by Simon Fawcett, who got rocked from behind after reeling in White's pass. Fawcett was injured on the play. He received medical attention at the Bellerose bench, where he was loaded up on a stretcher and whisked away. When play resumed, the Bulldogs kept the drive going with a third-down plunge by Kondro. The Scots then tightened up defensively, forcing Blunden to split the uprights from 19 yards.
Leading up to quarter-time, a quarterback sack by Cody Andresen forced the Scots to punt from their 34. With the Bulldogs back on offence, they gained a couple of first downs but had to punt from the Scots' 44. White, who also doubles as the team's punter, faked the kick for the second time in the game and gained the first down and absorbed a vicious hit in the process in front of the Scots' bench.
Once again, a promising drive stalled and the Bulldogs punted. On the return by the Scots, the Bulldogs were flagged for rough play on the tackle out of bounds and the ball was moved up to the Scots' 33.
After the teams exchanged turnovers and punts, the Scots caught a big break when the rookie Bulldogs' return man was unable to corral the bouncing kick and the visitors scooped it up at the Bellerose 32. A roughing the passer flag kept the drive alive, leading up to the game-tying field goal.
"We never thought we had it won, because anything can happen in a heartbeat," said Joseph, 16.
The Bulldogs don't play until Sept. 23, when they tackle the Bev Facey Falcons, last year's tier I provincial finalists and three-time defending Carr champions. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. at Sherwood Park.
"We've got to go into our bye week thinking and executing a lot harder," said Joseph, the recipient of the 2009 outstanding defensive lineman award at Bellerose.
The Bulldogs and Scots made the jump into the competitive Carr division after playing in the Miles conference last year. Bellerose finished second in the standings and 6-2-1 overall as the conference semifinalists. The Scots placed fifth at 4-4.
"This league is a lot tougher [than the Miles] and we have to play a lot better than we did tonight," Joseph said.
