The Innisfail Cyclones bantam and peewee football teams both ended their seasons on Oct. 25 with losses to Sylvan Lake and Drumheller respectively.
“We are very proud of both teams and the effort they put in during the season,” said Michelle Teskey, vice-president of the Innisfail Minor Football Association (IMFA). “With the possible addition of an atom team next year, and five or six players going from bantam to high school, we are seeing players starting to get excited for next year already.”
The bantam Cyclones played the Sylvan Lake Lions in Innisfail after not having played them this year, on Oct. 25 at the Innisfail High School football field.
“We are the northernmost team in the south division,” said Jessica Lute, IMFA club manager. “We did not play Sylvan at all this season after last year's realignment so this was our first game with them. Playoffs include both the north and south divisions and we did not know what to expect from them.”
Throughout the season the bantam team posted a 4 win-2 loss record, good for third in the south division, an improvement over last year's record. However, last year the squad won silver.
“The Sylvan team was tough,” said Lute of the 39-6 loss to the Lions. “We had good support from the community and at the end of the first half, the game was close. By the fourth quarter, our boys were tired and Sylvan ran away with the game.”
Despite the loss to the Lions, Lute considered the season to be successful for the team and they played with “good energy” and “heart” throughout the schedule.
Meanwhile, the peewee Cyclones travelled to Drumheller to take on the Terrapins at their home field.
“Our peewee team was outscored 30 to 13 in their loss to Drumheller,” said Teskey. “We were down 18-0 at the end of the first half, but came back and outscored them 13-12 in the second in a great effort.”
The peewees scored a touchdown on their final offensive series of the season and on the kickoff stopped Drumheller from moving the ball.
“Every player on the team played with a lot of determination, and did not give up easily,” said Teskey. “Throughout the game they demonstrated good sportsmanship and were good ambassadors for Innisfail.”
Talitha Watkinson, president of the IMFA, said she was very proud of both teams and their 2014 seasons.
“The IMFA is growing, and we want to add an atom team next year,” said Watkinson. “When the season ended, we had more volunteers than we started with, which is a good sign for next year.”
She added the association is celebrating its 10th Anniversary next year and given the high level of cooperation between the high school, bantam and peewee squads it is shaping up to be a success already.
“I was particularly pleased with our teams for the level of community support they showed,” added Watkinson. “On October 11, the bantams had a pink day for breast cancer and raised $200, and in Drumheller all of the 50-50 proceeds went to help the Terrapins rebuild their clubhouse after it was vandalized. We are seeing good citizenship as well as good football.”
While the IMFA is taking the winter off, preparations will soon be underway for the spring training camp for boys and girls from Grade 3 and up. More information on the IMFA can be found at www.innisfailminorfootball.com.
