Heading into the second half of its season, the Rimbey Spartans are looking at a tougher battle in the next four games than it faced the first half.
Coach Bill Bramfield says the team is part of a new tiering system this year. “We play the first four games and then they tier us.”
The Spartans are third in the league and were placed in tier one. “Currently we’re sitting at three wins, one loss,” said Bramfield.
In tier one the Spartans will be facing off against the top teams in the province, including Brooks, who the boys play on Oct.16.
“The team we’re playing, Brooks, they’re ranked number one in the province,” said Bramfield.
Bramfield says Brooks’ offense averages approximately 80 points per game and the Spartans four practices leading up to the game will focus on tactics to slow them down.
“We’re averaging about 50 points a game,” said Bramfield.
“We’ve got a good team,” he added.
Even with some tough teams ahead of them the Spartans are not one to be underestimate. The team is the two time defending provincial champions.
It recently beat Hinton in a 39-0 shut out. “Our defense, who are for the most part first years, a young group, are improving,” said Bramfield
“Our one loss this year was our first loss since 2011 in the regular season,” he added.
He explains each year the team turns over approximately one-third of its players and this year that one-third happened to be mostly in defense.
The loss was 63-59 against Breton during the Spartans second game of the season. Bramfield says his players fumbled the ball late in the game and Breton was able to score with three seconds on the clock.
The Spartans next home game is Oct. 22.