The Westlock Thunderbirds were handed a crushing defeat at the hands of the Vermilion Marauders, who took the final regular season game 34-6.
Friday’s Wheatland Football League finale put the T-Birds in second place in the Tier 2 standings behind the Marauders.
“We did have a good week at practice and we did have a good game plan, but we struggled with execution and it kind of snowballed on us again,” said head coach Jon Kramer.
The game was close for the first half and early in the third quarter, with the T-Birds trailing by just three points. Late into the game, he said things spiraled out of control.
“The guys are a little disappointed, a little disheartened, but we’ll just have to get them refocused and excited again because we’re still playing football and our destiny’s still in our hands,” he said.
Despite a 12-10 win against the Marauders earlier in the season, they proved to be the team’s toughest competition.
Kramer said he felt the team was prepared, but when it came down to it the team struggled with execution.
“Things kind of broke down along the way and we had a hard time moving the ball on offence,” he said. “That means the defence is stuck out on the field a lot longer than they need to be.”
Ideally, he said each player would be 100 per cent in on each play, but in reality, only 10 or 11 of the players were on their game, adding that despite the loss, he was proud of the players and their hard work.
The match-up had a handful of players unable to finish the game after sustaining various injuries.
Kramer said he doesn’t know how serious the injuries are, but hopes the players will be strong enough to return for the playoff game.
“There’s always injuries, but this year, there’s been at least twice as many as we usually have and it’s been twice as bad,” he said, adding that a lot of the injuries are to Grade 12 players, who are in their last year of high school football.
With the amount of injuries plaguing the team as they head into playoffs, lineup adjustments are imminent, but Kramer said he is not worried and will take things how they come.
“The last time we played them, we really struggled to move the ball on offence and then this game as well, we struggled, so we’re going to have to do a few coaching changes and as far as different injuries go, we’ll have to see who’s able to play this week,” he said.
The Thunderbirds will host the Athabasca Pacers this Saturday, Oct. 22 at 1 p.m. for their first playoff game.
“We beat them the first time we played them and we were just out there a couple weeks ago and they had beaten us,” Kramer said.
“I think the guys are excited to have another shot at them and a chance to win so we’re still in a good position.”
