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Crocus Plains quarterback Ryan Baker dodges a tackle during a Winnipeg High School Football League game against the Kildonan-East Reivers at Crocus on Thursday. (BRUCE BUMSTEAD/BRANDON SUN)
Almost everything that could have gone wrong for the Crocus Plainsmen did on Thursday.
The Plainsmen struggled both offensively and defensively as they fell 48-12 to the Kildonan-East Reivers (1-1) in Winnipeg High School Football League play at Crocus.
"Things just weren’t clicking," said quarterback Ryan Baker. "We had a good week of practice, but some days things just don’t work out and unfortunately one of those days was today."
Things got off to a bad start before the game even kicked off when head coach Kevin Boyd learned his starting fullback was injured and wouldn’t be able to play. Other injuries led to a patchwork offensive line and lots of substitutions throughout the game.
That led to an offence that struggled to move the ball until the fourth quarter. It was also part of the reason the defence failed to stop the Reivers from scoring a touchdown until their final possession of the first half, along with a defensive line that struggled throughout the game.
"We just weren’t getting pressure through," Boyd said. "They have an excellent offensive line and we just weren’t getting the push back. Our defensive backs and linebackers were making a lot of the tackles and our D-line was getting pushed a little bit but sometimes that happens."
Steven Siebrecht led Crocus’ defence with 16 tackles, while Martin Walker chipped in with 10. Baker, who also played a little defensive halfback, added five.
The Plainsmen looked like they would keep the game close early. After falling behind 7-0 in the first, Taylor Maloney returned the ensuing kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown.
Crocus didn’t score again until Victor St. Pierre broke a 37-yard run to the end zone late in the fourth quarter.
St. Pierre finished with seven rushes for 61 yards.
Baker was 4-for-13 in the air for 70 yards. Maloney caught three of those passes for 48 yards.
Crocus came into the season with high hopes, but is now
0-2 in the Kas Vidruk Division. Boyd is disappointed with the start to the season, but he still has faith in his troops.
"It sucks when you go 0-2 to begin, but I’m not giving up on them yet," he said.
"… (We just have to) work our butts off, plain and simple. We need to get healed up and have a good week of practice next week."
» cjaster@brandonsun.com
Republished from the Brandon Sun print edition September 14, 2012
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