Rams learning the ropes of being an independent team

By Lethbridge Herald on September 12, 2023.

Herald Photo By Justin Seward LCI Rams quarterback Marcus Christos does a fake hand off to Nathan Green during a play at practice on Tuesday.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

The LCI Rams varsity football team have shifted gears from the southern Alberta high school league to playing as an independent program this season.

“Well, we’re not really in a league at all right now,” said co-coach Darren Majeran.

“We’re just independent, which means some of the games we used to get here in the south, we don’t have anymore, and we have more of a provincial schedule this year. But there is no formal provincial league.”

The Rams found all of their opponents for scheduled games.

“So really it’s a matter of finding opponents from different cities (and) different schools that have an open week and see if they match, and if they do, great, you play,” said Majeran.

The Rams switched this season because of scheduling conflict  with local Tier II teams after they were left with being the only Tier 1 team after Raymond left for the independent circuit.

“So (it was)really a matter of just  schedules weren’t matching up with Tier II opponents because we needed games when they went into Tier 2 playoffs,” said Majeran.

LCI are still looking to find their groove as they have begun the season with an 0-3 record.

“The first few games have been tough,” he said.

“We’re a young team. We start at any given time three or four Grade 10s on the offensive line and we’re young in all position groups. But we have good kids, and we’re athletic, we’re fast and we just have a lot of learning to do. So the kids are out here, giving us everything they’ve got. We’re trying to give everything we have back to the kids because our goal is to get better and better every single day and it’s been slow. I mean, look, we’re 0-3 right now, it’s not where we want to be. But we believe we have the kids to improve and to make a season out of this.”

A consistent issue with the Rams is the little things.

“And they lead to turnovers, they lead to missed assignments and they lead to us not being able to reach our goal, which is either to stop the other team’s offence or put the ball in the end zone, right,” said Majeren.

“And we’re doing a lot of shooting ourselves in the foot. So what we’re focusing on right now is really just, hey let’s do those little things and count on them helping us in the games.”

Grade 11 player Owen Paskuski feels the team has been playing good.

“But I feel like (the) team’s coming along and (I) feel like the last few games of the year, we’re really going to come along and a make a big push at the end,” said Paskuski.

Paskuski wants the team to use the tough start as motivation.

“We all felt what it was like to lose the first three,” he said.

“So now use that motivation to go out and hopefully not lose any more this year.”

The Rams will look to turn things around on Friday as they face St. Francis in Calgary.