Buccaneers pillage Vandals to win AFL home opener

They’re a smaller and younger team than the one that lost only one game last year, but so far in 2017 the results remain the same for the Central Alberta Buccaneers.

In their home opener on what was a perfect night for football at MEGlobal Athletic Park in Lacombe, the Bucs had their way with the visiting Lloydminster Vandals, cruising to a 58-14 victory.

The Bucs started the game by recovering an onside kick on the opening play. Quarterback Judah Knip went 4 for 4 on the ensuing drive, capping it off with a touchdown pass to Axsivier Lawrence 1:29 into the opening quarter.

Jesse McPhail doubled the lead when he hauled in a Knip pass less than three minutes later. Lawrence’s second touchdown grab of the game on the final play of the first quarter put the Buccaneers up 22-0.

retrofitting building

Carnival Cinemas applies to rezone for residential development

1h ago

Over 65 participants

Two-day family violence training hosted in Lacombe

1h ago

10 to 15 metres

Red Deer residents concerned with increased building heights in new Zoning Bylaw

5h ago

Two more majors late in the second quarter from Pascal Plante on a one-yard plunge and Ian Krause on a one-yard catch made it a 34-0 Buccaneers lead at half-time.

The Knip-to-Lawerence connection struck again for a 24-yard touchdown pass 4:20 into quarter number three, making it 41-0.

Lloydminster finally hit the scoreboard when JD Field hauled in a one-yard pass from Colby Plikett, who added a two-point conversion, with seven seconds left in the third quarter, cutting the Bucs lead to 41-8.

McPhail scored for the Buccaneers early in the final quarter when he reeled in a short pass from Knip then scampered 44 yards to the endzone.

After the Vandals posted their second major of the game, McPhail hit for another long touchdown, this time on a 55-yard catch and run, and a 55-14 Buccaneers lead.

Tylor Johanson added a late field goal to round out the scoring in the lopsided Buccaneers win.

Next game… the Buccaneers take on the Calgary Gators at MEGlobal Athletic Park on Saturday, June 10 (6 p.m.)

Visit rdnewsNOW again soon for our video feature on the Bucs’ 2-0 start to the season