The Ponoka Broncs bantam football team has been absent from the win column for the past four seasons but that all changed this year.
The Broncs put together a complete game against Springbank on the road in a playoff game to post a 20-6 win. The first ever for this team and it was a moment to embrace for these young athletes.
“We finally got the “W” and this group of kids absolutely deserved it and it was cathartic,” said second year head coach Todd Lewis.
Years of hard work on and off the field yielded steady improvement for the Broncs but the victory bubble still remained intact.
The Broncs were leading 14-0 at halftime after a touchdown with a second left on the clock before the break. There was reason for optimism but it was of the cautious variety.
The conversation at half time was to start the 3rd quarter with a 0-0 score in mind.
Springbank came out with a little more intensity and blocked a Ponoka punt for their lone score but the defence shut the door with an interception with less than a minute to play sealing the ending. Mark one in the win column.
Second year quarterback Dylan Giles has been through a lot with his team mates over the two years and watched the level of talent increase. Breaking the goose egg was a moment he will remember for a long time.
“I guess at the moment it was a real rush,” he said.” We believe success is not just on the scoreboard but when that last whistle blew, seeing us in the lead on that scoreboard put a warm feeling in our hearts I think.”
Lewis says the win is huge for the program as kids want to play for a team which has success not only off the field but on it and now the Broncs can build on this win. The victory can be a recruiting tool for future players and will certainly work for the returning players.
“We burst a bubble. We know we can win a game and we crossed that mental barrier,” he said. “Next year who knows, maybe we can win two or three games. We can do it. We’re capable of it.”
All the hard work, the practices, the bumps and bruises were worth it in the end for the coach and the players.
“Even if the final score of that game was a loss for us I think it’s always worth it,” said Giles. “We’re there as a team and we finish as a team. I love playing with these guys and I’ve built a bond with my brothers.”
The culmination for players who have been there the past two years is a huge confidence boost for these young men.
“They should be proud of themselves. Our motto on the team is Broncs Pride, that’s how we break every huddle and they should be doing nothing but Broncs Pride always. They’ve earned it,” said Lewis.
Bring on 2017.
