Clarke Park – The St. Albert High Skyhawks almost beat themselves with a penalty-plagued performance in high school football.
The flag-filled affair on a full moon Friday night, which included the ejection of Grade 12 standout Tanner Doll, dominated the post-game discussion after the Skyhawks defeated the Archbishop Jordan Scots 18-11.
"We get some flags that we don't necessarily see with penalties. The referees are going to make the calls they're going to make and we have to learn to play within their parameters," said a grim-faced Sam Johnson, head coach of the Skyhawks. "It's tough because our boys don't get a clear reading on what's going on."
Johnson and his coaching staff went ballistic over several calls against the Skyhawks they didn't like. After Doll was banished from the field 30 seconds into the second quarter, the team was penalized twice for horsecollar infractions. The bench was also flagged for objectionable conduct, when the coaches screamed for a penalty against the Scots that didn't materialize.
A split-second after the gun sounded to end the first half, Johnson sprinted onto the turf to get clarification from the referees what exactly a horsecollar tackle was. After the long, animated discussion, Johnson joined the rest of the Skyhawks in their dressing room for some soul searching, and the Scots leading 4-0 on two safeties.
"We came in here at halftime and calmed everybody down, coaches included. We said a prayer, got refocused and came out strong and determined," Johnson said. "We just told the boys to have confidence in themselves, stick to the game plan and everything would be all right."
The Skyhawks eventually buckled down to win their second game of the season in the metro Edmonton league's Carr conference. They also did it without Doll, the defensive ringleader at linebacker who at times lines up in the backfield.
"For years since we've had the program we've talked about being a family here and Tanner is a huge part of that family. Guys know that when you're missing a key cog in your system like that, you have to have somebody step in and Brett Evers did a fantastic job today of doing that," Johnson said of the Grade 12 linebacker who made tackles on just about every play for the defence. "Mr. [Garret] Doll, our defensive co-ordinator, has a great system. It's a good, sound scheme. The boys understand it and know what they have to do, regardless who we have on the field."
Man of the match
The game star for the Skyhawks was Nathan Mitchell. The Grade 11 slotback/defensive back from Paul Kane High School scored two touchdowns and picked up two fumbles.
"If feels good to do that, but it's a team game," said the blushing Skyhawk, who was reluctant to go into detail over his performance. "We did a lot of good things as a team. Defence was strong. Offence was pretty good too."
During the first possession by the Scots, they coughed up the ball and Riley Morin was credited with the recovery at the Skyhawks' 51. After the turnover, the Skyhawks settled for a 33-yard field goal attempt by Matteo Sistito that sailed wide of the posts.
The next time on offence, the Scots caught a break when the Skyhawks were flagged after tackling the quarterback out of bounds. A few plays later, the Scots' quarterback fumbled the ball forward while gang tackled. It rolled towards Mitchell, who fell on it at the Skyhawks' six with 1:27 left in the quarter.
The Skyhawks punted to start the second quarter, but after the play Doll was penalized 25 yards and sent to the showers. It's unclear exactly what happened for Doll to warrant an expulsion, but the Skyhawks were adamant he didn't deserve the penalty. It also put the Scots at the Skyhawks' 22.
On first and goal from the eight, the Scots' quarterback fumbled the ball and Mitchell picked it up at the four. Two plays later, the Skyhawks decided to punt but the low snap from centre flew past Mike Spagnolo standing in the endzone and he was forced to concede the safety.
Back on offence, the Scots marched into scoring territory, thanks to a 15-yard horsecollar penalty, but turned the ball over on downs at the Skyhawks' six. Spagnolo would later give up the safety with 3:14 remaining in the half.
Another big defensive play on third down, this time by Andre Leduc, gave the Skyhawks the ball at their 42. However, the Scots regained possession after three incomplete Spagnolo passes.
After the Scots gained a first down, another horsecollar penalty was assessed to the Skyhawks, this time against defensive end Adam Sturgess that left Johnson hot under the collar. The Scots kept moving the ball, and gained extra yardage when the Skyhawks' bench was flagged after a successful third-down gamble by the Scots. With the application of the penalty, the Scots were first and goal from the eight, but the half ended when Sturgess wrapped up the quarterback.
Second-half surge
In the third quarter the Skyhawks jumped ahead 6-4 on Spagnolo's quarterback sneak from the one. Earlier in the drive, Spagnolo hooked up with Brendan Thera from midfield for a TD, but a blocking infraction wiped out the score. Ironically, a rare flag against the Scots a couple of plays later put the Skyhawks at the one.
The Scots regained the lead with a five-yard TD run by their quarterback on third and goal with 2:45 left in the third quarter. A rough play flag against the Skyhawks kept the drive going.
After the kick off, and the Skyhawks losing 11-6, Spagnolo went downtown to Mitchell for a game-breaking 70-yard TD.
"I just ran under the ball, caught it and then I kept on running," said Mitchell, 16.
On his second TD, on third and goal from the four to cap off a 31-yard drive that started after the Scots turned the ball over on downs, the former junior Hawk fumbled the pigskin away into the endzone, but emerged from a pileup of players with the ball with 2:24 left in the game.
"I lost it and then I had to wrestle some guys for it."
Prior to the TD, a 27-yard catch and run that Thera took to the house was called back because of a penalty.
After the controversial match, the Skyhawks were a happy bunch boarding the bus for the ride home.
"We're pretty excited. It was a good team win. Everybody played really hard but we've still got work to do," Mitchell said.
Johnson was also relived to see the Skyhawks stay undefeated in league play, while improving to 3-1 overall.
"It's a big deal, especially when you've got a short season like we always have in the Carr," he said. "We talk about working towards our ultimate goal and this was another step towards that and now we're going to get ready and prepare for Bellerose on the 7th [of October, 6 p.m. at Riel Park field]."
