The Jasper Glaciers were at their very best last week as they handed the Wolfpak a rainy day 82鈥�7 drubbing.
On offense and defense, the Glaciers six-a-side football team dominated the game, which was played at Harry Collinge School in Hinton.
Emerson Ostrander set the tone early with a punt return touchdown, followed by a deep pass reception for a touchdown from quarterback Jake Melanson. The defense limited the success of the Wolfpak offense, frequently getting into the backfield to make tackles.
Each consecutive Wolfpak punt put the ball back into Glacier hands. Jack Hilworth and David Broemling each scored rushing touchdowns, while Melanson completed touchdown passes to Martin Kreiner, Ostrander and Sean Lanigan, for his first as a Glacier.
Kreiner also intercepted an errant Wolfpak pass and broke a tackle before finding the end zone. At the half, the Glaciers were up 56-7 and the outcome of the game was no longer in question.
The second half saw the Glaciers continue to pressure the Wolfpak offense. After Dylan Mooney was brought down just short of the goal line on a third and three gamble, the defense was able to score a safety.
Later in the quarter, rookie linebacker Jake Delorme intercepted a Wolfpak pass and sprinted down the sideline behind some solid blocks to score his first touchdown. Veteran centre Morgan Poirier also found pay dirt as Melanson found him open on consecutive plays in the fourth quarter. The Glaciers defense subbed in several players, yet they still managed to strip the ball from the Wolfpak offense, allowing third-year Glacier Donal Beauchamp the opportunity to recover the ball in the end zone for his first ever touchdown.
Ostrander was good on seven of 10 two-point kicked converts to round out the scoring for the Jasper squad.
Defensive coach Jeff Wadsworth was very impressed with the play of the defense. Grade 9 players Liam MacKinnon, Lochlan Beauchamp, Brendan Auger and Ryan Pickle all made plays either tackling players for losses in the open field or knocking down passes. Delorme seemed to come into his own as linebacker as he issued several punishing hits to the Wolfpak ball carriers.
It was a complete effort as all players limited mistakes and stepped up to make plays both on offense and defense. The mood on the sidelines was very jovial as success on defense brought success on offense and the team really gelled in support of each other.
The next Glacier action will be Friday, Oct. 3rd as they host the Sunchild Bisons at Centennial Field. Game time is 4:30 p.m. and the Glaciers look forward to playing behind a supportive home crowd.
Fred Kreiner
Special to the 51暗网
