-
May 26
Monarchs
Stars52
17 -
May 26
Irish
Drillers14
9 -
May 26
Vandals
Wolfpack35
35 -
June 2
Bucs
Monarchs10
32 -
June 2
Stars
Vandals21
10 -
June 2
Wolfpack
Irish13
34 -
June 9
Wolfpack
Monarchs6
79 -
June 9
Irish
Bucs7
48 -
June 9
Drillers
Vandals7
32 -
June 16
Vandals
Bucs19
64 -
June 16
Irish
Stars0
55 -
June 16
Drillers
Wolfpack5
31 -
June 23
Monarchs
Irish86
0 -
June 23
Stars
Drillers25
0 -
June 23
Bucs
Wolfpack70
25 -
July 7
Drillers
Monarchs0
92 -
July 7
Stars
Bucs8
56 -
July 7
Irish
Vandals6
46 -
July 14
Bucs
Drillers68
0 -
July 14
Wolfpakc
Stars48
0 -
July 21
Stars
Monarchs0
62 -
July 21
Drillers
Irish19
8 -
July 21
Vandals
Wolfpack14
33 -
July 28
Monarchs
Vandals55
0 -
July 28
Bucs
Stars62
6 -
August 11
Monarchs
Bucs35
17 -
August 11
Vandals
Irish14
21 -
August 11
Wolfpack
Drillers30
20
- Gators topple Monarchs in AFL final
- Irish make it to .500 after big win over Vandals
- Buccaneers frustrated after Predators forfeit recent game
- Vandals come back against Drillers
- Monarchs top Wolfpack
- Central Alberta Buccaneers lose to Calgary
- Bugs thwart Vandals in home opener
- Bucs sail past Vandals
- Monarchs move to 2-0 with win over Calgary Gators
- Bucs sail past Drillers in season opener
Pillage by committee in Grande Prarie
- Updated: May 30, 2017
After an extensive first period with three possession changes, the Central Alberta Buccaneers came out on top of a 44-14 victory in Grande Prairie.
The Central Alberta Buccaneers had a big road trip to kick-off their 2017 season. After the long wait since 2016, the Bucs were itching to take the field in Grande Prairie against their long-time rivals, the Drillers.
The first game of the season is “always the most nerve-wracking one,” said Bucs’ slotback Jesse McPhail. “You never really know how good [the team is] or how other teams stack up until you see the results after the first week.” Regardless of either teams’ ability, the Bucs knew they were heading into a battle on Saturday. “Grande Prairie is always a hard-hitting team.”
In the very long first quarter (that lasted an hour and a half), the lead changed hands three times. After the Buc defence had made a big red-zone stop on their own 30-yard line, the pirate offence marched the ball downfield with some deft passing and running until they hit the Drillers endzone. The teams traded scores until the game sat 14-13, Drillers, at the start of the second quarter. After a timeout, the Bucs rallied, collected themselves, and began to execute; their defence shut down the Drillers for the rest of the game, and the Buccaneer offence drove possession, running all over the field and completing short, precise passes.
The Bucs travelled with a small roster, taking the field with 31 dressed players. The short-staffed Bucs excelled partly due to their small roster. “Guys stepped up. We needed everyone to ball out, and everybody did,” said team captain, Mark Fay. “Absolutely everyone on our roster left it all on the field. Every Buc played his heart out, and it showed on the field and the scoreboard.”
The Bucs hope to continue their success via committee into Week 2 on Saturday, June 3, when they host the Lloydminster Vandals (1-0). Kickoff is at 6 p.m. at Lacombe MEGlobal Athletic Park. Concession will be open and FunHaus will be on the field on gameday with a bouncy castle for the children (free admittance).
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