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Spartans, Mustangs optimistic heading into playoffs

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The Rimbey Spartans’ Beau Sincennes pounces on a loose ball coughed up by the Ponoka Broncs in high school football action Oct. 15.

Staff reporter, Mustang’s info courtesy Erin Woods

With one regular season game remaining for the Buck Mountain Mustangs and the Rimbey Spartans of the Western Alberta Six-Man Football League, all indications point to both teams making the playoffs, however in one case, that was already a foregone conclusion.

Coming off a 32-30 loss to the Ponoka Broncs, the Spartan’s record dropped to four wins and three losses, however by clinching a playoff spot head coach Bill Bramfield said the team will face an old nemesis in the first round.

“It looks like we’re going to finish second in the South Division which means we’ll play the third team in the north, which is going to be Breton and the game will be here,” Bramfield said, adding his squad remains confident of their prospects. “We’re trying to rebound and I think there’s no team in the league that we cannot beat so that’s the bottom line. We’re going to get better and I like our chances.”

In the loss to the Broncs, Bramfield said it amounted to a combination of a reversal of fortunes for Ponoka and a nasty playing field.

“That was the second time we played them. We beat them earlier in the year, but they’ve improved,” he said. “There were some wet conditions and they did very well. They’ve got some big boys and pushed us around a bit on the snow.”

As for the other two defeats handed to the Spartans this season, both came at the hands of the Mustangs, a team Bramfield said could be very dangerous, especially when considering they have yet to lose and sport a league-best record of seven straight wins.

“Buck Mountain’s got a bunch of veteran players including three key offensive players that can do lots of things. They’re very versatile with a big line so offensively, they’re able to mover the ball,” Bramfield said. “On defense, they’ got two solid linebackers that make most of their stops. We’ve played them twice and we played them close in both games so we’re hoping the game we beat them is the game in the playoffs.”

The Spartans will host Caroline this Thursday afternoon with kickoff scheduled for 4:00 p.m.

Mustangs continue to roll

Prior to last Thursday’s tilt against Caroline, the Buck Mountain Mustangs held a pep rally that saw three students from each grade selected and assigned a teacher. Next, the students wrapped each teacher in toilet paper. After a set time, the teachers were required to race across the school’s gymnasium to decide the winners, which turned out to be the Grade 11’s.

Following that though, it was time to get down to business for the first-place Mustangs and their aspirations for a league championship, which they did in spades.

After scoring at will throughout the first half, the Mustangs took a 48-0 lead to the locker room thanks in large part to two substantial running plays by Tiz Robinson and Garrett Chappel. Also chipping in with a solid game was Eric Patterson who showed considerable talent and promise.

By the time the gun fired to end the game, the Mustangs had added four more points making the final score 52-0.

Buck Mountain will strive to keep their perfect season intact when they travel to Ponoka to face the Broncs this Thursday.