A fumble, a punt and Griffins lose by a point

In spite of snow warnings streaming out over 660 News Radio, many were there. Two teams of young football players, their coaches, cheer leaders, referees and a big bundled up crowd of supporters to see the Calgary City High School football championship semi-final. Lining up at the Stampeders field in Shouldice Athletic Park were Ernest Manning Griffins (EMG), versus William Aberhart Orange (WAO).

Three quarters passed without a score until Griffins got a touch down at 8:24 in the fourth from their full back, #17. The conversion made  it 7:0. Griffins looked set to win but with less than a minute on the clock, Orange worked their way into the Griffins zone. First down was held up right on the line. Second down, they pushed harder, went over and scored. With the conversion, it was seven points apiece and 39 seconds remaining. Overtime was looking likely.

Orange kicked off, back to Griffins. The Manning team made ground, running to the 20 yard line but then fumbled in the tackle. Orange jumped on the ball to re-take possession.

The crowd could see that time had run out. But the referee had whistled up play with just a second or so left, enough for Orange to punt high into the end zone. The Griffins defender caught the ball clean but was tackled before he could clear. One point to Orange and game over, 8-7.

For more images, see JAshleyNixon photography.