Beyond being a playoff game today, the Holy Rosary Raiders are trying not to get to far ahead of themselves.
A win today, combined with a St. Paul win, could give them a home game on their new field. However, first, they need to get through a Stettler team that has been a provincial mainstay for decades.
The Raiders face the Stettler Wildcats today at 1 p.m. in Cold Lake after field conditions in Lloydminster couldn’t be guaranteed in time for kickoff.
Head coach Vince Orieux said last week’s 21-14 win showed plenty of rust in the first half, but the team settled in when it mattered.
“We were down 7-2 at half and then came out really strong in the third quarter,” Orieux said.
The Raiders scored touchdowns on back-to-back drives in the opening seven minutes of the second half, taking control before a late fumble made things interesting. Orieux said the game served as a reminder of how tight the margins are this time of year.
“They’re a good opponent. If we see them again, it’s hard to beat a team that good two times in a row, so it’s going to be a battle,” he said.
A veteran opponent ahead
Stettler enters today with a long history of deep playoff runs under head coach Norb, who Orieux said has been with the program “35 years for sure, probably more.”
“All we know is what we’ve seen on film,” Orieux said. “They’ve been around provincials for a long time. They’re well coached. We can’t look beyond Saturday.”
The Raiders will rely on a lineup that has already weathered injuries, including at quarterback. Last week was the first start for the team’s new pivot, and Orieux said he “grew up a lot” during the game.
Player view: Stay focused
Quarterback JR Howdell, who remains sidelined with an injury, said the group is confident heading into the semifinal.
“I think we’ve got a good shot this week,” Howdell said. “Even with some injured players, we have guys who can fill in. If we just play the best we can, the result will show.”
Howdell said the team’s slow first half last week came down to missed execution, but the momentum swing in the second half showed what the Raiders are capable of.
“Everyone really rallied,” he said. “We were running the ball effectively and didn’t have any troubles there. Hopefully we can clean some of those mistakes up and just rally together.”
His message heading into kickoff is simple.
“Stay focused. Don’t let the little things ruin momentum,” he said.
Potential home game on the line
While today’s focus is the semifinal, a win could open the door to hosting next Saturday.
There is one wrinkle: a wildcard rule that prevents certain teams from hosting. If Ardrossan beats St. Paul, Ardrossan would host. But if St. Paul wins and the Raiders advance, Holy Rosary would get a home playoff date on Nov. 21.
“It’s possible,” Orieux said. “We control some of it. We just have to take care of the ball and be sound defensively.”
The Raiders and Wildcats kick off at 1 p.m. in Cold Lake.
