It's been a rough 2014 season for the Sacred Heart Saints senior football team and on Thursday things got even worse as Sacred Heart's record fell to 0-5 thanks to a 38-12 loss to the visiting Foam Lake Panthers.
Everything seemed to go against the Saints on Thursday starting with the weather, a cold and rainy day that took their planned offence out of the playbook while allowing their opponents to play to their offence's strengths. "We really wanted to throw the ball more than we did but with the rain and the cold and how wet the football was we just couldn't throw it as much as we wanted to," offered Saints head coach Trent Senger, continuing, "So it did affect us a little bit but it didn't seem to affect their game.
"They're quick and they run and in cold, wet weather a good running game is always effective."
That running game was on full display in the first half, starting with the Panthers first possession when they opened the scoring with a touchdown via the run to make it 7-0 Foam Lake.
But scoring early meant that the Saints offence, which has come alive in recent games, had a chance to even the score on their first possession.
Unfortunately that was not to be as an uncharacteristic fumble on their first play led first to a Panthers fumble recovery and soon after, the second Foam Lake rushing touchdown of the quarter.
A missed extra point meant the Saints trailed 13-0 after just one quarter of play, something that has become all too common in 2014. "We seem to not be ready in the first half for some reason," lamented Saints head coach Trent Senger. "Our opening series for our offence and we fumble the ball which puts us in a hole right off the hop and then they score again."
Two more Panther rushing touchdowns made it 25-0 in the second quarter before the Saints finally got on the board thanks to a Caleb Sutter rushing touchdown with 20 seconds left in the half to make it 25-6 after two quarters.
Much like the first game of the season against Foam Lake, a weak first half was followed by a strong second half highlighted by a 43 yard Sutter run finished off with a two yard Tannum Wyonzek quarterback sneak into the end zone to cut the Foam Lake lead to 25-12.
But just when it seemed as if the Saints were about to mount a comeback the worst possible thing happened: With a minute left in the third quarter Sutter was tackled and remained down long after the play had ended.
The talented running back then had to be carried off the field by teammates before being transported to the hospital for examination, however head coach Trent Senger feels that Sutter could have made his way off the field under his own strength, but was simply not allowed to do so by the training staff. "He could put pressure on it and he could have walked but we chose not to let him," offered Senger after the game. "We sent him up to the hospital and we'll see what the results are."
Unfortunately for the Saints however, Sutter didn't leave alone. With him when any chance that Sacred Heart had of winning the football game, despite a strong fourth quarter performance by replacement running back Christian Flaman and a fantastic catch by CJ Lorenz.
Foam Lake, in a classless act, added one more touchdown to rub salt in the Sacred Heart wounds with no time left on the clock to make it a 38-12 final.
Up next
The Saints were in Broadview yesterday to take on the Bandits, however results were unavailable at press time.
The next action for the Sacred Heart Saints senior football team will be Thursday, October 16 when they welcome the Esterhazy Warriors to town. Kickoff is set for 4:00p.m.
