Buccaneers WR Ben Hnatiuk stretches across the goal line for a touchdown after making a marvelous one-handed grab. The score made it 7-3 Bucs in the first quarter of their game against Calgary Wolfpack on Saturday night in Red Deer. (rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

outplayed

Bucs mangled by Wolfpack in second half letdown

Jul 13, 2019 | 10:58 PM

Ben Hnatiuk was brief in dissecting a 49-35 loss by the Central Alberta Buccaneers to the Calgary Wolfpack at Great Chief Park on Saturday.

“There’s not much to say about it,” said the wide receiver, who had three touchdowns for the Bucs. “A lot of penalties killed us, by myself included. We’ve got to get better and smarten up. That’s pretty much all I can say.”

The loss came despite the Bucs having led the game 21-10 at halftime and 28-10 midway through the third quarter.

Both teams played a disciplined opening quarter that saw the Wolfpack carry a 3-0 lead into the second.

On the ensuing drive, however, the away team was handed three straight 15-yard penalties, helping the Bucs down the field. Hnatiuk took advantage by making a one-handed 11-yard touchdown grab.

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The sides traded TDs as the quarter went on. But with 1:28 left and the Bucs up 14-10, the game was temporarily called due to a massive rainstorm and lightning.

When play resumed, and before the first half was complete, Hnatiuk struck again with his seventh major of the season.

In the third, Hnatiuk kept rolling, picking up his third touchdown of the night to give the Bucs a 28-10 lead.

But a quick Wolfpack counter made it 28-16 (including a failed two-point conversion).

Calgary’s Brandon Davis was ejected for unnecessary roughness shortly thereafter.

In the final quarter, Calgary inched closer with another major in the opening minute, cutting the lead to 28-23.

Ben Hnatiuk, Buccaneers wide receiver, had three touchdowns in a 49-35 loss on Saturday night at Setters Place. (rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

Moments later, the Bucs found themselves in a 1st-and-45 situation close to their own endzone. A poor punt gave Calgary great field position and Dylan Minsull punched it in to give the visitors a 31-28 lead.

An interception on the next Bucs drive led to another Calgary TD by Tyler Shaver, giving the Wolfpack a 38-28 lead on the strength of 27 unanswered points.

But the Buccaneers weren’t going down without a fight. With 3:21 to go, they finally got back on the board with a beautiful leaping snag for a TD by Axsivier Lawrence, making the score 38-35 Wolfpack.

In the end, Calgary pulled away, winning 49-35.

“It’s a lot harder than getting blown out or just losing straight up, especially with the way we were up,” Hnatiuk explained. “Coming out in the third quarter and putting up the amount of points we did, then all of a sudden it’s gone, it hurts a lot.”

Up next for the Buccaneers is a home game with the Airdrie Irish at Setters Place on July 20. Kickoff is at 6 p.m.