Wolverines lose close contest against Titans
Despite a heroic, three-touchdown effort by Shep Howatt, the Bow Valley Wolverines dropped a devastating 29-22 decision to the Drumheller Titans on Saturday (Oct. 13) at Millennium Field.
Howatt was unstoppable in the first half, and likely could have had at least one more touchdown if the calls had gone his way.
“We wanted to try and run the ball, but the passes worked well too,” Howatt said.
Quarterback Wes Rose and Howatt found a great rhythm early on. After a dominating run by Landon Sandford, who gave Drumheller fits all day, Rose used his quick release to find a wide-open Howatt on the outside for a touchdown. The wide receiver then took kicking duties and booted his own extra point.
Rose and Howatt continued to weave their magic in the second quarter. Rose and Jamie Reilly had a touchdown called back after a daring fleaflicker play was flagged for pass interference, but the quarterback recovered and again found Howatt, who ran 40 yards for his second touchdown and a 14-1 lead.
Before the end of the half, Rose found Howatt one more time alone in the end zone. Howatt again kicked the point and a 21-1 lead looked solid heading into the second half. While the offence was running smoothly, the Wolverines proceeded to dominate the Titans physically and a win appeared in the squad’s grasp.
Drumheller, which spent much of the first half complaining about referee calls, re-focussed in the second half, putting more pressure on the Wolverine offence. An early touchdown shifted momentum, and before the Wolverines knew what was happening, they were clinging to a 21-15 lead.
In the fourth quarter, the Titans continued to press and grabbed a 22-21 lead early in the fourth quarter. The Wolverines’ offence responded again thanks to Howatt and Rose, who marched the ball all the way to the Titans goal line. However, with the game in balance, the Wolverines couldn’t manage to score, missing a field goal with two minutes left to earn a single point when they needed seven.
Howatt appeared to catch the ball in the endzone, however, the referees saw otherwise. Drumheller took advantage of the missed cue and put together a clutch touchdown with less than a minute to go, earning a 29-22 lead.
“We slipped up and once there was a change in momentum, we couldn’t get it back,” Howatt said.
Despite a raucous display from their opponent’s bench, the Wolverines showed a lot more discipline and poise on the field. Coach Chad McClenaghan said the team was fired up from the opening whistle and had something to prove against the Titans, last year’s defending champs.
“The biggest difference from last week is we didn’t have a game on Thursday. This time we were more rested and ready to go,” McClenaghan said.
The game was within reach, but the Wolverines were banged up, and a few offensive calls didn’t go their way.
“We got unlucky on offence and we were playing a good team. We’ve gotta be happy with the way we played against them,” McClenaghan said.
Linebacker Thomas McChesney, the team’s leader on defence, suffered a mild concussion last week and was only used on offence this week. McClenaghan said the team missed his presence.
“If he was playing defence, maybe it could have made a difference. But we didn’t want him to get a head rocker out there.”
Four Wolverines are currently out of action because of concussions. All three are expected to be back before playoffs, which begin on Oct. 27.
The Wolverines played James Fowler High School on Wednesday (Oct. 17), however, results weren’t available at the Outlook’s deadline.
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