The Central Alberta Buccaneers were a team on a mission Saturday evening at ME Global Athletic Park.
The object was to capture third place in the Alberta Football League with the St.Albert Stars standing in the way.
When the dust settled it was mission accomplished as the Bucs posted a workmanlike 19-6 win over the Stars.
“I like that we competed for four quarters so we did that pretty well,” said head Coach Devon Hand. “It’s a decent win against a tough team and we’ll take it and move on to Airdrie.”
The Bucs made some offensive changes which worked for the most part as former H.J Cody quarterback Matt Merkley was under centre for the game.
“We were struggling a bit at the quarterback position. We know Matt’s a heck of an athlete so we know he’s had success as a quarterback at different levels so we decided to move him in there,” said Hand.
The move paid off as the Bucs took the opening kick off and drove down field for a Matt Merkley to Pascal Plante touchdown pass.
With a bye week the Bucs had time to look at themselves as a team and Hand was pleased to see some steps taken towards becoming a more complete unit but it wasn’t without some issues Saturday night.
The Bucs are one of the most penalized teams in the Alberta Football League and the dark side of team showed itself once again against the Stars.
“It’s an ongoing thing and sadly it’s become normalized at the present,” said Hand.
The rabid Bucs defence was working towards a shutout when some bad penalties kept drives alive and allowed the Stars to reach the end zone late in the game.
“We took a terrible 15 (yard penalty) and advanced it and they put the points on and that’s been our story all year. So it’s another working example of how we’re getting there but we’re not there.”
He also pointed out how the offence took its share of flags which kept points off the board or this game could have been out of reach early.
Next up for the Bucs are the expansion Airdrie Irish who have just two wins to their name but Hand says this won’t be a case where first stringers will see very little action in preparation for the playoffs.
“We play like they’re a championship team. You treat everybody the same. You execute and you go out there and try to improve. If the score indicates it then you put in your second and third teamers,” he said. “You can’t look past anybody. We’re not good enough to do that yet so you have to play them honest.”
The Bucs will host either Grande Prairie or Edmonton August 22nd at ME Global Athletic Park.
