Team speed will be key to Rams’ success

Posted 5 months ago

Set to take on the ever tough Sylvan Lake, the Lacombe Rams put in a solid practice Wednesday evening, going through a series of drills and live scrimmage. Friday was the Rams season opener at home and results were not known at press time. The Rams will be in action again Sept. 11 when they visit Lindsey Thurber. Lacombe Globe/ HEATHER PICKETT

HEATHER PICKETT

Globe Staff

LACOMBE– For football fans planning to catch a Rams game this season, head coach Brian Ross said spectators can count on seeing three things from his squad.

“Speed, speed and more speed,” said Ross, as he watched his team run through drills during a recent practice. “We don’t have a lot of the typical ‘big’ guys this year, we’ve got a very athletic, very fast group. There’s a lot of speed and aggression.”

The Ecole Secondaire Lacombe Composite High School (ESLCHS) football team kicked off their regular season Friday against Sylvan Lake, who consistently fields a tough team. After that, things don’t get much easier as their second match-up finds them squared off against Lindsay Thurber. Despite knowing the competition will be fierce throughout the season, Ross is optimistic about his team’s chances.

“At this point, we’re further ahead than we’ve been in previous years in terms of how the team is coming together and the level the guys are bringing to the field,” he said. “We’ve got 15 returning players which gives us a strong core group and the young guys this year are loaded with talent.

“And we’re changing our playing style this year as well. It’s going to be more designed to throw off the other teams and we’re going to use our speed to every advantage.”

While Ross expects strong performances from his quarter back and key players like Skyler Sargent and Brandt Kolybaba on offense, the Rams bench boss has pinned high expectations on his defensive line.

“I think we’ll be strong in all positions but our defense is going to turn heads. Our defense is going to be tough to beat,” he said. “I expect that they’ll be strong and aggressive. They’re really going to shut the opposition down.

“We’re not the biggest dog in the fight but we want the guys to come out with the attitude that they are. It’s going to be a good year.”

-news@lacombeglobe.com