Knights dodge Lightning with game-saving tackle in Okotoks

You never know who is going to be a defensive hero in a football game. Sometimes the biggest tackle is made by a quarterback. 

In the Holy Trinity Academy Knights 10-7 victory over Red Deer’s Hunting HIlls Lightning Sept. 17,  a game saving tackle was made by a quarterback after an HTA fumble.  
“On the previous play, I had hurt my knee and I knew that there was nothing going to stop this guy except for me to save this game,” said Knights quarterback Ryan Petersen after the victory in Okotoks. “I said ‘let’s make a play and worry about the pain later.’” 

Holy Trinity Academy Knights were marching down for a game-clinching TD with less than two minutes in the fourth quarter when an HTA runningback fumbled on Hunting Hills 31 yard-line.  A Hunting HIlls DB scooped up the ball and was racing the other way for the game-winning touchdown only to be hauled down by Petersen, 20 yards from paydirt.  

The Knights still had some work to do.  

The Lighting had a first and 10 from the HTA 20 and were able to pick up a first down. HTA forced a third and two from the Knights’ six yard line when the defence made another big play.  

They were able to force runningback Nolan Baragar to fumble and HTA took over on downs. It was the third time in the game HTA took over on downs.  

“We knew no. 6 (Baragar) was getting the ball the whole time – he was running and running,” said Knights defensive lineman Ted Tell. “And we did it, we secured it – just great all-around defence there.” 

Tell made a huge play in an earlier third-down hold. The Lightning had a second-and-five when Tell was able to hit Hunting Hills quarterback Alexander Wilson’s arm as he attempted to throw to a wide-open receiver. The Knights held on the following play.  

Defence ruled the evening as there was the type of strong wind from the west that Ian Tyson sings about. 

In fact, the Knights opened the scoring on the first play of the game when HTA kicker Gabriel Marquardt. put the ball through the end zone on the opening kickoff.  

They would add another point in the opening quarter when Briseno’s booming leg forced another single. 

The Knights did something weird in the second quarter when their offence had to go into a stiff wind.

They passed the ball.  

“Hunting Hills was blitzing linebackers and we decided the middle was wide open and we could throw in behind the linebackers,” Petersen said. “We drove down the field and made points. (Offensive co-ordinator) Bill McConkey has faith in my arm and I have faith in my arm. So just put some pepper on it and let it fly.” 

Some pepper with a soft touch.  

Shortly after HTA’s defence stopped the Lightning on downs in the second quarter, the Knights offence was facing a 3 and 10 at the Lightning 35. Going into a strong wind, the HTA brass decided to go for it.  

“I saw the outside linebacker coming on a blitz and I just said, ‘Hold your water, step up and deliver the ball,” Petersen said. “Chris Peloso made a great catch and we got the first down. That was the game-changer." 

The quarterback called his own number on the next play and ran it in for the TD. A successful two-point conversion made it 10-0 at the half. 

However, the Lightning proved why it went into the game as the seventh ranked Tier II team in the province.  

They closed the gap to 10-7 in the third quarter when Wilson took it from three yards out on a play action.  

Meanwhile, the Lightning held the HTA attack scoreless in the second half — and came within a tackle of winning the game.  

Lightning coach Kyle Sedgwick was happy with his team’s effort.  

“This was Holy Trinity’s fourth game and it was our second,” Sedgwick said. “We had only four players play in our game (last week) who had any high school football experience. A lot of our guys their last experience was Bantam. 

“This was a huge learning experience for us. Tonight, we were way better. Great things to learn from.  

“I don’t care about winning or losing on Sept. 17. Our whole goal every year is to get better and hopefully play Holy Trinity again in provincial playoffs.” 

He said part of that learning experience included going for it on third and two late in the game rather than kicking the tying field goal.  

HTA coach Matt Hassett said the Knights dodged a bolt of lightning.  

“We are improving but we have to stop shooting ourselves in the foot,” Hassett said. “We took a lot of silly penalties. We had a runningback (Michael Eagle Bear) who was gone for the touchdown and no one was going to catch him, but we took a penalty.  

“We are making plays and sometimes selfish mistakes. I don’t think it is this close a game if we were more disciplined.”