The Yorkton Regional High School Raider Gridders like being the bad guys.
At least that is the view of their coacj Jason Boyda who said the team relishes the role in a game like the one they played Friday.
The Raider Gridders were is Estevan as the opposition in that team鈥檚 Friday Night Lights contest, one that always adds to the crowd and atmosphere.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really nice on the road, you鈥檙e just with your teammates. There鈥檚 less distractions,鈥� he said, then adding like in wrestling road teams tend to end up the 鈥榟eels鈥� coming out to boos when there鈥檚 a boisterous crowd. 鈥�... We kind of like playing that role as heel ... We just embrace it.鈥�
With a good crowd behind them the host team scored the opening touchdown.
鈥淓stevan did a good job,鈥� said Boyda, who added the first ha;f was one of adjustment for the Raider Gridders.
鈥淭here were wet conditions. We had a few ball security issues.鈥�
The situation was such that Boyda said he realizes the team needs some more focus on less than ideal conditions in practice.
鈥淚 think I鈥檒l get a bucket of water and dump some of our older balls in in and let them practice with a wet ball,鈥� he said, adding the later in the season the more likely conditions will be less than ideal.
On Friday though, the Raider Gridders adapted on their way to an eventual 53-24 win, the offence finally catching fire.
鈥淲ith our no-huddle, up-tempo offence we鈥檙e able to push the pace,鈥� said Boyda.
It helped too that the blocking by the Raider Gridders on offence was excellent, said Boyda, giving a special nod to the receivers who blocked on run plays.
鈥淲e always say 鈥榶ou want the rock, you鈥檝e got to block鈥�,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey (the recievers) really take that to heart. Their blocking is phenomenal.鈥�
Next action for Yorkton sees them host Weyburn Thursday at 4 p.m. at Century Field in the city.
