Football Spartans lose on home turf
Kagen Bacon carries the ball wide while looking upfield for blocks during the Spartans’ home game against Martensville Sept. 25. The visitors would go on to secure a 38-0 win.
by Phil Ambroziak
Three games into the 2015 season and the Carpenter High School Spartans football team is still looking for its first win.
The CHS squad was shutout yet again when they fell 38-0 to the visiting Martensville High School Royals Sept. 25 at Lions Park.
“Although it was not reflected on the scoreboard, the team gained a lot of positives from last week’s game,” explained head coach Sam Dawson. “The things we did wrong are fixable errors and, this week, we’ll be working on form tackling and ensuring we know our responsibilities in any given defensive or offensive position.”
Friday’s game, meanwhile, saw a bit of a change up with Grade 10 player Ethan Kyplain assuming the role of quarterback.
“I was very nervous,” Kyplain said. “In the end I didn’t feel good about the loss, but kept reminding myself this was my first time in this new position. We just have to keep playing like we want it, playing as a team and hopefully we’ll be able to put some points on the board.”
The Spartans have yet to score a single touchdown all season.
“Ethan was battling a little frustration considering it’s a new position for him, but he settled in by the second half, the team rallied around him and he was able to set up some nice drives,” Dawson said.
The coach also highlighted the efforts of players Bryan Klassen and Kagen Bacon who helped the team gain yards, as well as offensive captain Lyndon Benz who nearly earned the team’s first touchdown of the season late in the game.
“Lyndon showed a lot of heart, especially in the second half,” Dawson remarked. “Even though we lost, the team was the most positive it’s been in the dressing room after that game than any other. We’re only going to go up from here.”
Dawson also said the support from Spartans fans has been nice with some members of the community offering advice. In spite of this, however, he also admitted some players have left the team since the start of the season.
“We’ve had a few athletes leave the team for various reasons,” he said. “Some personal, some academic and some unknown.”
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