NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat High Hawks quarterback James Comstock loads up for a deep throw in the second quarter of a 42-13 loss Thursday night at the Methanex Bowl to the No. 2 ranked 5A Comets from Raymond.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
The Medicine Hat High Hawks measured themselves up against one of the top senior high school football teams in Alberta Thursday night.
The Hawks faced the 5A Raymond Comets at the Methanex Bowl, falling 42-13 to the No. 2 rankled school. Hat High entered the contest as the No. 4 ranked 4A school.
Head coach Quinn Skelton says they knew the quality of team they were facing and he liked how they held up against the Comets.
“Athletically, we just wanted to play our best, see what our guys do with them.” Skelton said. “We’re really proud in a lot of ways and we can obviously see where we can improve. But overall, we’ll leave here with our heads up, know who we played and get ready for playoffs.”
The Hawks came into the contest off a 46-6 win the week prior over Chinook.
Raymond did all the scoring in the first half, banking a pair of rushing touchdowns in the first quarter and notching a passing TD in the second for a 21-0 lead at half time.
After the Comets opened the third quarter with two passing touchdowns, the Hawks got on the board.
Running back Keene Shigehiro scored a rushing touchdown in the last three minutes of the quarter for the first score. A missed extra point made it a 35-6 game.
Skelton liked how his team stuck in the game.
“We didn’t quit and we came out physically, we tried to play hard with Raymond and we just, we didn’t quit,” Skelton said. “That was probably the best thing, we kept fighting right through until the end of the game. We got some young guys in the fourth quarter, getting a few points on the board is good thing, too.”
The Comets scored a touchdown to end the third quarter, failing to convert the convert for a 41-6 lead.
Hat High added to their tally in the fourth with quarterback James Comstock calling his own number, rushing the ball for the score. The Hawks converted on the extra point.
That was the last of the scoring for both teams, locking in the 42-13 final.
The Hawks (4-3) will host Catholic Central on Oct. 18 to finish their conference play before the playoffs. The game will be the Hawks’ senior night and will also be featured as the ASAA game of the week.
Skelton says they have to use the contest as preparation and approach the game with the intention of getting better.
“Next week we’ll come out here, regroup and reload,” Skelton said. “We have to get through a few injuries with guys as well. So hopefully we’ll springboard right into playoffs.”
Colts host Chinook
The Monsignor McCoy Colts were also in action Thursday night at the Methanex Bowl.
The Colts (5-2) hosted the Chinook Coyotes in a game that was not complete by press time. McCoy entered the game as the No. 10 ranked 4A school.
Their next action is Oct. 19, noon at the Methanex Bowl against Cold Lake.
