While the Marauders may have the fiercer-sounding name, it was the Pacers who did the routing last Friday in Vermilion, winning 46-26.
The game was reminiscent of the Pacers’ resounding victory at their home opener Sept. 6, which they won 56-0: Pacers head coach Pete Burden said though the team made a few early mistakes, “We scored on our first drive again.”
When the score crept up to 21-0, Burden subbed in his younger players.
“We were a little bit limited because we have so many Grade 12s. We can’t put all young kids in; we just don’t have that many,” he said.
He noted the young defensive players he does have showed vast improvement compared to an exhibition game in Whitecourt Aug. 29 that Athabasca lost, largely due to a lack of aggression on the defensive side.
It was 29-7 at halftime in Vermilion.
“They came back and made a pretty good game of it,” Burden said of the Marauders, noting Vermilion’s impressive 95-yard run and subsequent touchdown, which led to the game being within two touchdowns for much of the second half.
Quarterback Gaetano Minto had more time on the field; he was not able to run much in the opener because the Pacers jumped into the lead so quickly and decisively, Burden decided to play younger players for the majority of the game.
“He had a really good game. He ran the ball well,” said Burden of Minto’s performance in Vermilion.
The read-style offence with which the Pacers have been experimenting panned out well for both Minto and the team’s second quarterback, Justin Kwasney, who had a chance to run plays he doesn’t normally run and threw very well throughout, said Burden.
A young receiver, Alex Lapshinoff, “sparked the team up a little bit” with a “great hit on a kickoff,” added Burden when asked about outstanding plays.
He is quick to stress, however, that the focus is not on individual performances — in fact, he has posted a sign in the Pacers’ changeroom reminding players to leave their egos at the door.
“The boys have bought into it. They’re not worried about who’s getting the most carries, who’s getting the most charges: it’s all about how the team is doing.”
The Pacers next play the Westlock Thunderbirds in a battle for first place in the Wheatland Football League standings this Friday, Sept. 20, at 8 p.m. The teams will clash on the football fields behind Westlock Elementary School.
“This will be a good game. They have a big, big team who are fairly highly skilled,” said Burden. “Hopefully we come out on top.”
Burden noted that hundreds of Pacers fans attended a night game in Westlock last year. He hopes this week’s match will see a similar, voluble turnout for the green and white.
