Highwood Mustangs defeat Pincher Creek Sr. Mustangs in soggy exhibition game

Senior Mustangs vs Senior Mustangs: Pincher Creek (blue and white) and Highwood
Stefan Ludwig photos, C. Davis video

(updated)

• Note: Pincher Creek's Bantam Mustangs take to the Matthew Halton Field this Saturday September 7 starting at 1:00 pm for their home and season opener against the Bulldogs.

Chris Davis, Pincher Creek Voice

Pincher Creek's Senior Mustangs hosted High River's Highwood High Mustangs at Matthew Halton field this evening, September 6 for a pre-season exhibition game. Environment Canada issued a thunderstorm alert shortly before the game commenced, and the first half was a wet one as the rain drizzled down on the field. A few peals of thunder and cracks of lightning in the distance didn't seem to diminish the enthusiasm on the field for either team. The rain stopped early in the second half.

Highwood ultimately won the game 24-13.

The Pincher Creek team members are largely new to their roles as Senior Mustangs, and at times that played against them, in a manner that can be safely described as "learning opportunities" at this stage of the (pre) season. Pincher's Mustangs did manage to dominate the first few minutes of play, scoring first before Highwood gathered momentum. My favourite play of the game was when Pincher Quarterback/Defensive Halfback/Safety #12 Kyle Knowlton intercepted the ball in Pincher's own end zone and carried it a long way down the field back in the right direction. A brilliant play, quick and assured. "He made two interceptions today," said Assistant Coach Jamie Kiffiak after the game.

Stefan Ludwig photo

After the game I talked with Head Coach Wayne Alexander, who spent much of the game directing the play from on top of the south hill. "We certainly got off to a good start today. When you look at the start, it was fantastic," he said. "Exactly what I would have wanted. That first drive, five plays the length of the field. That was good." Coach Alexander acknowledged the newness of the team. "There is a lot of inexperience. The thing I like, you heard the spirit of the boys, in the background. That's fantastic." What he was referring to was the constant supportive chatter that those on the sidelines kept up throughout the game. It can be a game changer.

"We've got a lot of young guys. One of the coaches asked 'For how many of you this is your first game?' At least a third of the guys put their hands up." The team has only 4 grade 12 players out of 22 that suited up for this game.

Stefan Ludwig photo

"There was a lot of positives," Coach Alexander Continued. "I'm never happy with a loss. It's not that I'm a poor loser, it's that I know we have a lot to work on." He also commented that the Highwood Mustangs have really improved. "Last year we beat them by 50 points."

"The opening of the game was great offensively," Coach Alexander wrote in a later recap of the game.  "Our first drive was impressive with the Offensive Line opening up huge holes and #27 David Shortreed ran up those gaps for 10-15 yard gains per carry. We moved the ball 70 yards in just 5 plays to scored a TD on that opening sequence of plays"

"We had moments on Defence where we played well with huge hits particularly by #18 Justin Albert (Strong side Linebacker)...and # 90 Bailey MacDougall (on the Defensive Line)."

These two teams won't meet up in the regular season, "But we may see them if the Mustangs go to Provincials," said Coach Alexander.

He makes the call - Coach Alexander

Pincher Creek's Senior Mustangs will be playing away games for the next two weekends, the first an exhibition game against Olds next Saturday September 14, followed by their season opener against Claresholm, the team they most like to beat, on Friday September 20. Another away game is scheduled against Coaldale on Thursday September 26.



2013 Pincher Creek Senior Mustangs:

#10 Nolan Weatherill QB/C/S
#12 Kyle Knowlton QB/DHB/S
#15 Travis Stushnoff R/C
#17 Merrick Stauffer R/C#18 Justin Albert FB/SLB/LB/S/Punter
#22 Montana Jones FB/QB/DHB/Punter
#27 David Shortreed SLB/FB/Punter
#30 Austin Sinclair TE/OG/MLB/DE
#32 Teigan Lissel SLB/FB/S/DHB
#33 Austin Parker SLB/C
#35 Ben Riviere FB/SLB/LB
#39 Troy Pittman FB/OG/MLB/DT
#43 Tyler Scherger OT/DT
#44 Cooper Hagley C/OG/DT/DE
#50 Josh Rubbelke C/DT
#57 Bryce Crawford OG/DE
#60 Eddie Many Guns OT/C/DT
#65 Liam Nazarek C/OT/DT
#67 Robbie Smith OG/DE
#69 Joey Jackson DT/DE/Kicker
#80 Jeremiah Peacemaker TE/OT/DE
#81 Jean Maritz TE/FB/DE
#90 Bailey McDougall TE/OT/DT/DE

Head Coach:  Wayne Alexander
Coaching Staff:  Jamie Kiffiak, Todd Merrick, Dan Crawford, Alex Oliver and Dylan Stevens
Guest Coaches:  Travis Liscombe, Tom Holoboff