Drillers fighting for playoff spot

By Eric
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Updated: July 14, 2016

Logan Clow – Daily Herald Tribune – Thursday, July 14, 2016

The Grande Prairie Drillers have found themselves fighting for a playoff spot.

With a 2-3 record and coming off a 50-3 loss in St. Albert last weekend, the Drillers play their final two of three regular season games at Legion Field.

The final stretch begins Saturday against the Airdrie Irish (1-5) and then the Calgary Gators (July 23). The team closes out the regular season Aug. 6 in Calgary against the Wolfpack.

Jay White, team president and line coach, said the Drillers need to win two of the three games to solidify a playoff berth.

“We have to (bounce back). That was a winnable game and we laid a goose egg,” said White after last weekend’s loss.

“I think we just have to grow and come back to playing a team game. We’ve got too much individualism and we’ve got to get back to playing a team game and we’ll be fine. We have a good team. We have good players. We just have to come together as a group in a quick period of time and battle this weekend against the Irish. We’re not done. We can still make the playoffs.”

White said player individualism stems from the team’s inexperience and not knowing how to deal with adversity.

But with a young squad in the midst of fighting for a post-season berth, White said it’s become a crucial time in the season for the team’s small core of veterans to start leading by example.

“We have to beat the Irish and then we go in and give the Gators a battle and hopefully pull off an upset there. If we can’t do that, we’ve got to win the Wolfpack game. We’ve got to win two of the three anyway and we should make playoffs the way things are right now,” said White.

Saturday’s game starts at 6 p.m. at Legion Field.

Admission is $5 for adults. Children 12 and under are free. Drinks and food will be available on site.

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Twitter: @DHTLogan