The Lloydminster Vandals returned to the field in style this past weekend.
After having almost a month off in between games, the Vandals welcomed the Red Deer Buccaneers to Armstrong Field and were ungracious hosts, hammering the Bucs 42-16 Saturday afternoon.
The Vandals scored 35 points in a dominant first half and cruised to the 26 point win.
“It feels great. The long bye was really bad, we didn’t hit the field enough during it. This past week we were crisp in practices and we came out and showed it Saturday,” Vandals fullback Jase Bouchard said.
The Vandals admittedly got off to a slow start, something they were a little worried about entering the game, but they quickly shook off any rust and got back to business.
The big key early on was the running game, which allowed the Vandals to open up their offence later in the game.
“We had our inside run going for us. We started hooking up downfield later, it was a good game,” said Bouchard, who scored three touchdowns from inside the five-yard line said.
Taking on the Buccaneers in their first game back after a long break was just what the Vandals needed to jump back into action.
It allows them to shake off any rust they may have had and prepares them for a big game next week against Grande Prairie.
“It was good we came into a game like this, being confident enough to do what we wanted to do against a team that was a little weaker,” Bouchard said. “It’s just one more step to becoming that much more crisp, to the level we want when we play them (GP).”
Bouchard scored two of his touchdowns in the first half and both Valleaus – Jared and Jess – each recorded one as well, giving the Vandals a 35-1 lead at the half.
Bouchard added his third score in the fourth quarter before the Bucs scored twice, but it was too little too late at that point for the visitors.
“We knew we had to get out early and the start is a big key. We needed to get rolling, needed to get the rust off and basically coming out strong in the first half got us going for the whole game,” Vandals veteran linebacker Matt Fisher said.
Fisher, who’s defence was very strong Saturday gave credit to the Vandals’ offence, who scored in a number of different ways and put together some long drives that showed off their abilities.
“The offence is a big threat on the other team’s defence. They like to throw the ball deep, they can run the ball up the middle, they can do anything. Our O is very well balanced this year,” Fisher said.
“This year we have everything.”
The Vandals weren’t looking past the Bucs, but admitted they shouldn’t have any trouble with them.
More than anything this past game was a warmup for what will likely be a second-place showdown coming up Saturday.
“It was good to have a hard fought game, now we have a huge game next week against GP. They are one of the top teams so a game like this gets the rust off, gets you going and we’ll all be ready and crisp for next game,” Fisher said.
With the blowout win behind them, the Vandals will now focus on preparing for the Drillers, who come in with a perfect 4-0 record and sit in second place.
“We’re just going to make a game plan this week in practice and figure out what we’re up against,” Bouchard said.
The Vandals host the Grande Prairie Drillers Saturday at 6 p.m. at Armstrong Field.