Bulldogs host Sylvan Lake in quarter-final

By Lethbridge Herald on November 10, 2022.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

The Winston Churchill Bulldogs football team host Sylvan Lake in their Alberta Schools’ Athletic Association Tier III quarter-final game tonight.

The Bulldogs have had plenty of time to prepare for the matchup, as they have been on the gridiron practicing for three weeks.

“I think it was important over the course of the three-week span to give them a little bit of time off to heel some of their wounds from the season and also to get some rest, obviously,” said Bulldogs head coach Jonathan Dick.

“And then it allowed us some time to spend time studying film (and) doing some chalk talk in the classroom. Some of the stuff that’s a little bit tougher to get in when you’re in the middle of the season and you’re playing every single week. It’s not ideal that we have three weeks to prep because you want to have a game a little bit closer to that playoff game.”

Dick said the boys have been working hard the last three weeks.

“They’re teed up and ready to go,” said Dick.

The Bulldogs have not played Sylvan Lake in a provincial game to Dick’s knowledge.

“This is  a little bit new territory for us, which we’re looking forward to taking on that challenge,” he said.

“We obviously watched quite a bit of film on them and they have some big physical players that’s going to pose some problems for us. We’re going to have to have a really good game. (There is) lots of speed in their skill positions, so again, a true test for us.”

Dick is looking forward to seeing what his Grade 12 leaders can do.

“I think (tonight) the big thing is as soon as that whistle blows to start the game and the opening kick-off happens, if our boys want to play and they want to be there, then I think we’ll compete and have a real good game,” said Dick.

“If we come out flat, then obviously we’re going to struggle.”

Game time is 5 p.m. tonight at University of Lethbridge Community Sports Stadium.

If the Bulldogs win, they will host the winner of Medicine Hat’s Crescent Heights High School and Strathmore High School next Saturday.