“A story has no beginning or end: arbitrarily one chooses that moment of experience from which to look back from or from which to look ahead.”
Graeme Greene penned that phrase in his novel The End of the Affair, however, the theory holds true for the Bow Valley Wolverines.
Suitably thumped 50-7 in a playoff matchup against the Drumheller Titans on Saturday (Nov. 3) to end their season, the experience earned, the character built, serves as a foundation for a brighter future.
“If at the beginning of the season you asked me if this team could come within a game of the championship match, I would have said ‘no’. But these boys played well and I’m proud of them to the end,” said head coach Chad McClenaghan.
New leaders emerged on the team: Landon Sandford, Wes Rose, Jamie Reilly, Lucas Love, Shep Howatt, and others were inspired to join the Wolverines squad which could have 24 returning players next year. Those veterans set a strong example for younger players, providing a strong foundation for next year.
“Sometimes it’s not just the skill you bring. Sometimes it’s the dedication: be the first guy on the field, carry the bags, help clean. For the most part, they led by example. The young guys on the team saw what they had to do.”
The actual game was closer than the score indicated. The Wolverines stuck with the Titans until the second half. As coach McClenaghan subbed out many of his starters in the fourth quarter, Drumheller ran up the score. Jamie Reilly scored the Wolverines’ lone touchdown when quarterback Rose found him deep for the score. Almost all of Reilly’s touchdowns this season have come off the same play.
“They trusted each other. When they learned they could trust one another, they were able to play as a team. Football is the ultimate team game. You have to rely on the guy in front and behind you to do their job,” McClenaghan said. “These guys also put in a lot of hard time in practice.”
Looking back at the season, the Wolverines made huge leaps forward, the coach said. A win at McMahon stadium against Cochrane was the team’s first in a year and a half, and created momentum that carried them into the playoffs. That will serve to build the program for next year, he said.
“To get that monkey off our back was huge.”
In the end, McClenaghan said he’s proud the team served as strong ambassadors for the town.
“I’m proud of the way these kids played. I’ve seen other players disgrace themselves on the field, even in winning. We represented the Town of Canmore and the high school well.”
The Wolverines will hold their annual football banquet at the end of November.
