It was a promising finish to an entertaining football game, but for the Estevan Comprehensive School Elecs, it wasn't enough.
The team lost 31-14 to the Weyburn Eagles in their home opener on Saturday at Dana Quewezance Memorial Field.
Penalties and turnovers cost the Elecs, but they saw some very encouraging developments, particularly on defence.
"We made huge improvements from last week to this week," said Elecs head coach Mark Schott.
The Elecs struggled in the first half, not getting anything going on offence and hurting their own cause with penalties.
The Eagles broke open a scoreless game in the second quarter when Kyle Martin punched in a two-yard rushing major with 5:36 left in the half.
In the final minute of the half, a penalty sent the Eagles to Estevan's one-yard line and Zach Neilmeyer broke the plane to put Weyburn ahead 14-0.
Estevan's problems continued early in the third quarter when a pick six thrown by rookie quarterback Andrew Kehler was run back 60 yards by Quinten Ruckaber.
Estevan's offence started to show signs of life in the third quarter, but it was in the fourth when it really shone.
Early in the fourth, Kehler connected with Mitchel Clark on a 49-yard pass down to the one-yard line. Two plays later, running back Levi Pick ran it in to make the score 21-7.
In the final two minutes of the game, the Elecs' defence got some pressure on the Eagles and there was a high snap on a punt. It was recovered by the Elecs on the two-yard line and Clark then ran in the team's second touchdown.
"We needed something to happen here in the second half to get us back in the game and they came up big when they recovered a fumble and made an interception. Then we pinned them deep in their own end, and our pressure got to them and they had a high snap on the punt. Our defence was amazing today, and I'm confident that our offence will also be able to get on the right track, and we saw that toward the end of the game," said Schott.
In the final minute, the Eagles would tack on a field goal and another pick six, this time by Jarrett Metheral.
"There are definitely some things we need to improve upon, even after this game. Turnovers is one of them. Penalties is another one, and making sure that we're mentally ready right from the start of the game. A lot of penalties, that's just a mental focus issue. We need to be smarter than that. That really hurts us when we make a big stop or make a big play, but then it's negated with a 10 or 15-yard penalty. Those are big momentum swings and if we can clean that up, I think we'll definitely be in a better position," said Schott.
He added Kehler, who was playing in his first high school game, should only get better with time.
"There's still some execution issues on offence and defence. Making sure that guys are in the right place at the right time sometimes is easier said than done, but that's something that we need to work on.
"We had Andrew Kehler in there today, in his first game at quarterback at the high school level. I thought he was great today, but there was a little bit of first-game jitters there, so I think with a full week there and heading into his second game, he'll be much more relaxed and he'll see the whole field when he's out there."
The Elecs (0-2) will visit the A.E. Peacock Tornadoes on Friday in Moose Jaw.
