Incredible way to start the season

By Eric
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Updated: May 30, 2016

Lloydminster Vandals’ Austin Mullen congratulates his teammates after they won their Alberta Football League season opener on Saturday. Two-fourth quarter touchdowns, including a pick-six, led the Vandals to a 15-1 victory over the Airdrie Irish. Eric Healey/Lloydminster Meridian Booster/Postmedia Network

Eric Healey – Lloydminster Meridian Booster – Monday, May 30, 2016

Both teams flirted with the end zone for the majority of the game but it was the Lloydminster Vandals who came out on top after posting a pick-six and a quarterback rush late in the fourth quarter to win 15-1 over the Airdrie Irish in Alberta Football League action at Armstrong Field Saturday.

From a spectator’s viewpoint, the turning point in the game could have been when quarterback Mike Holman ran 25 plus yards for a first down on 2nd-and-long.

The coaching staff, however, felt it was when Riley Gilroyed scored after intercepting a pass from Airdrie’s quarterback Morgan Hides.

Prior to this point, it was a 1-1 game, which player coach Glen Dembicki said could have gone either way.

“One slip by a guy and they could have scored easily,” he said “Then you’re in a dog fight and it puts you behind the eight-ball.”

With just under five-minutes remaining in the match, Holman punched the Vandals’ winning ticket after he ran within 1st-and-goal proceeded by a successful two-point conversion. The Irish were unable to produce anything further to enhance their possibility at coming close to tying the game.

“The defence played outstanding,” Dembicki said with little concern pregame about their defence. “They made me a big believer today.”

Given the inclement weather, Dembicki was pleased with the efforts put forth by the receivers and in drier weather, they are “going to shine” he said.

“We have a good receiving core and it will show.”

Since going undefeated in 2012 to not only win the Alberta Football League championship but the Canadian Major Football League championship as well, the Vandals have had problems in terms of posting game scores in their favour – winning one or two games per season since.

“This win is going to be huge. The guys mindset right now, the atmosphere around the locker room is going to be crazy,” Dembicki said.

Uncertain as to how the win will affect their season, Dembicki is looking to carry the momentum forward in order to continue on a positive note, rather than having to claw their way back into a potential postseason team.

Heading into Week 2, Dembicki is confident they will be able to leave Calgary with a 2-0 record, saying the Vandals “match up pretty well” against the Wolfpack.

“We’ll go down there and hopefully do our job and come away with a win.”

The Vandals will travel to Calgary to face the Wolfpack on June 4 before a Week 3 bye. They return home on Saturday, June 18 when they host the Central Alberta Buccaneers.