By Scott Roblin

Hawks soar to bantam provincial championship on home turf

Nov 17, 2018 | 5:50 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – History made for the Medicine Hat Hawks program on Saturday, completing a perfect 2018 season with a Tier II bantam provincial title.

The Hawks came to play in their biggest game of the year against the visiting Edmonton Mustangs, earning a 29-6 victory to secure the first provincial championship in the program’s history.

Fighting a chilling wind and below freezing conditions at the Methanex Bowl, the Hawks were able to find the end zone three times in the first half to take a 21-0 lead into the break.

After the Hawks added a point to their totals, Edmonton was able to get on the scoreboard with a rushing touchdown to close out the third quarter.

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Medicine Hat added to their totals in the fourth quarter however, with Logan Wells hauling in a pass from Brody Fink and shaking a handful of Mustangs defenders to score a touchdown.

Wells said it was one of the biggest touchdowns he’s ever scored, made even better knowing it was a late haul that clinched the provincial championship.

“I had no feeling, I was just so shocked,” said Wells. “All those guys are jumping on me, I was just trying to get into the end zone. But, I got it and I’m just shaking, it was a really good game.”

Edmonton had the ball late in the fourth on their own goal line, but were intercepted by the Hawks late to give the Medicine Hat team the victory on their home field.

It’s redemption for the local squad, as a young Hawks team won just two games all last year.

Fellow senior Aayden Callan led the way on both sides of the ball in the win and said everything came full circle for the Hawks this season.

“I’m speechless, this is just very incredible” said Callan. “I’m just glad to do it with the team I had, the team had very good chemistry, we came from a rough haul from our very first two years. But, then we just pulled it out and took the win.”

Medicine Hat completed an undefeated 2018 season as well, redeeming themselves for two provincial finals losses over the last decade.

Hawks coach Scott Howes has been on the sidelines for over two decades and said it’s a banner day for the players, coaches, and their families.

“One of the coaches even said, ‘This is my first year, this was a good year to jump in,’” said Howes. “I’m like, ‘You have no idea how hard it is to get to this level.’ And so, I’m hoping those kids celebrate and I hope they have the potential to keep this going all through their high school days, and some of them for university.”

Howes added it’s a tall order to repeat next year with many seniors graduating onto high school football, but said he’s encouraged by the work his rookies did all season.