Hat High Hawks looking to win when it counts most

By JAMES TUBB on October 20, 2022.

The Medicine Hat High Hawks varsity football team finished the year atop the Rangeland Football Conference. But they’re not satisfied just yet.

The Hawks beat the Crescent Heights Vikings 24-6 on Oct. 14 in their final game of the regular campaign to take first place in the league and sweep the RFC season. Hawks head coach Quinn Skelton said there was a lot of excitement after the win and securing first place.

“That was the intention and the boys worked hard all week to try to secure that,” Skelton said after the win. “I’m real happy about it. I’m sure they’ll be extremely happy back in the clubhouse.”

Skelton said his team came out and played well when it mattered, and it led them to success against the Vikings.

“They didn’t quit, right to the end. We knew we would be in a dogfight with these guys tonight; Crescent Heights kids are always tough, and I knew coach (Scott) Wendell would have them all ready to play,” Skelton said. “We weren’t taking anything for granted, we weren’t expecting a cakewalk, and they gave us a great game. The score probably doesn’t really indicate the way the game played out.”

The Hawks enter the Rangeland playoffs with a first-round matchup against the McCoy Colts who finished their season in the fourth seed. Hat High beat the Colts 62-0 on Sept. 16. The winner of that semifinal match will take on the winner of Crescent Heights and the Brooks Buffalos in the RFC finals. Skelton says they would utilize their first full week of drills to get ready for the semifinals matchup.

“We haven’t had a full four-day practice yet and it’s just one of those years with long weekends, holidays and breaks,” Skelton said. “So we’re looking forward to a four-day practice week and get prepared for the semifinal.”

Their matchup against the Colts gets underway Friday night at 7 p.m. at the Methanex Bowl.