By Scott Roblin

Parkside Pythons advance to bantam football provincials

Nov 11, 2017 | 5:40 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The Parkside Pythons bantam football team will be playing for a provincial championship next weekend, after winning their final home game of the season on Saturday.

Facing off against the Calgary Rebels at the Methanex Bowl, the Pythons were fresh off a dominant 61-3 victory over the Medicine Hat Colts for the Rangeland Football Conference bantam title.

Parkside used their ground game to perfection on Saturday, taking a 28-18 lead over Calgary into halftime.

The Pythons grew that lead to 42-24 at one point in the third quarter, but the Rebels wouldn’t go away quietly and began to mount a late-game comeback.

It wasn’t enough to crack Parkside’s sizable lead however, as the Pythons clinched the semi-final victory by a 42-38 final.

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Pythons head coach Lloyd Bray said the cold and foggy conditions meant a lot of turnovers, which was a battle the home side won.

“That was huge, because as the end of the game came around we needed that cushion,” said Bray. “Our guys were gassed.”

Running back and safety Kalen Rieger had a huge day for Parkside on both offence and defence, and said Saturday’s win is the pinnacle of his football career so far.

“It means a lot to me because I’ve never been this far in my life in football ever,” said Rieger. “And, I feel really good right now.”

Up next for the Pythons will be Tier II provincials, as they will take to the field in the province’s capital against the Notre Dame Cougars out of Red Deer.

“It’s great, I mean we’ve been in this game so many times and this is the second time we’ve made it through to the finals,” he said. “So, this is a huge game, Tier II [in] Edmonton, it’s going to be a fun week.”

Alberta’s Tier II bantam championship will be handed out on November 18 in Edmonton.