Junior Rams set to tangle with Cowboys for provincial bantam title

By Lethbridge Herald on November 17, 2023.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

The Lethbridge  Junior Rams bantam football team will try for a second consecutive year to bring home a provincial title today.

“It means everything,” said Jeremy Newart, Rams head coach.

“This team has worked very hard this year. We’ve had many ups and downs and we’re coming together at the right time, and the players are really gelling, and the players are excited,  the parents are excited. Everybody’s excited to be going to the provincial final two years in a row. It speaks volumes as to what the players and the supporting people with this program have been doing for the last few years.”

The Rams will face the same opponent that knocked them off in the provincial final last year in the Calgary Cowboys.

“It’s definitely a rematch,” said Newart.

“There a fantastic football club that’s well coached. They got a great program and a history of success, and we’re just excited for the opportunity, and we’re going( to) do our best and see how it goes.”

Newart said the team that makes the least mistakes will probably win.

“We just want to execute well ,and see how it works and try to minimize mistakes and take advantage of opportunities,” he said.

The team has been working on execution and making sure that everything is done properly during practice in the lead up to the game.

“(So) that everybody knows the plays and everybody’s ready to jump in when needed and a lot of positivity,” he said.

“We’re having a lot of fun. Like I said ,football could be over right now for us but it’s not. So we’re just really taking in the moment, we’re having a little bit of fun having some football, and just making the most of this moment and trying to get everything down perfectly for the weekend.”

Newart said, “Balance,” when it comes to the team’s strength.

“We have many players that are ready to compete all the time and that’s what they do,” he said. “From top to bottom, this whole team is structured so well with such a fine level of athletes that compete hard all the time (and) that play hard for each other. And they just love to be a part of this team and it shows.”

The Rams defeated the undefeated Raymond Comets in the league final before beating the West Edmonton Raiders in the provincial semi-final.

Kick-off is 1 p.m. from Shouldice Park in Calgary today.