The Calgary Colts found their second road trip to start the season as frustrating as their first.
The Colts dropped a 29-8 decision to the Edmonton Wildcats at in Edmonton on Sunday to fall to 0-2 to start to the Prairie Football Conference season.
Both losses have come on the road and the Colts are not done in their white uniforms yet, as they will head back up Highway 2 on Saturday, August 31 to face the Edmonton Huskies for a 7 p.m. contest.
The two sequences that had the biggest impact on Sunday’s game came early in the third quarter. Trailing 15-5, the Colts pushed the ball down to the Wildcats’ one yard line but were unable to get it across the line and turned the ball over on downs.
The Wildcats proceeded to march 108 yards for a score — a 14-point swing that left the Colts trailing 22-5.
“It was one of those games where we had some opportunities to put some points on the board and we didn’t get it done,” Colts head coach John Stevens said.
“We were down a little bit in the first half and the defence made some plays to keep us in the game at halftime.
“We did cause a fumble and drove it down to the one yard line but were unable to score and they were able to drive the field. Obviously it was a huge turning point.”
Another near miss offensively for Calgary came in the final minute of the contest when Cam Fox fumbled as he was about to plunge over for a touchdown.
Calgary’s offence came largely off the foot of Andrew Fabian, who booted field goals of 24 and 52 yards. Edmonton surrendered a safety in the second quarter to account for Calgary’s other two points.
Jeremy Long and Keifer Olsen split duties at quarterback again for the Colts — Long played the first half and Olsen came on for the second.
Stevens is refusing to use inexperience as an excuse for the first two losses. The Colts suffered several key losses to graduation this season.
“The reality is we are always going to lose a certain number of players off our roster and it’s the same for every other team,” he said.
“We by no means are going to use inexperience as an excuse for a performance. The biggest thing is when we have opportunity to make plays if we expect to win we need to make those plays.
“That’s always the name of the game.”
The Colts will see their first home action on Sunday, September 8 when they host the Winnipeg Rifles, who are also winless through the first two games of the schedule.
The Colts opponent next week — the Huskies — share top spot in the PFC with the Saskatoon Hilltops at 2-0.
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