Both the Bantam and the Midget teams of the Rocky Mountain Rams football program had an extremely successful weekend on the road. The Bantam Rams went to Pincher Creek where they won over the local team in a clear 29-0 decision. The senior Rams traveled to Eureka, Montana, a place where they had never been victorious. But there is always a first time, the Eureka team had no chance and the Rams won the match with a score of 36-18.

Don Erichsen, head coach of the senior Rams, says his players hit the ground running in Eureka. They scored on the first offensive play with a 70 yard pass from quarterback Zach Sletto to receiver Adam Cadogan. "We scored on our first four possessions," Erichsen recalls. Especially considering the team had to get used to the four-down football of the US with more restricted movement and a smaller playing field, the coach is extremely pleased with their efforts.

Erichsen says Sletto was 8 for 20 passing and threw 208 yards and two touchdowns. He also added 28 yards rushing. Cadogan was his primary receiver. He got two touchdowns, recovered a fumble for a touchdown on defense and also made one interception. Full back Nico Bonanno rushed 11 times for 89 yards and got two two-point conversions. Ryan Savarie contributed two touchdowns and a two-point conversion.

"The story on defense was the emergence of Matt Molnar," Erichsen thinks. He points out Molnar is an incredible athlete. Recently cut from the College of the Rockies volleyball team, Molnar decided to join the Rams and Erichsen says in his first game ever Molnar came up with six individual tackles and two quarterback sacks.

Max Leibold - or the "Germinator" as he would like to be referred to from now on - had eight tackles, one sack and achieved a defensive fumble recovery. Defensive leader Owen Wells also contributed as fumble recovery and a quarterback sack, as well as seven tackles.

Erichsen thinks the senior team has been constantly improving since the beginning of the season and is convinced that had it not been for some key players being suspended for disciplinary reasons, they could have won the game the weekend before. And Erichsen says there was another reason for the outburst in Eureka. "We had a number of kids that expressed they were tired of losing."

"We played as a team," Erichsen sums up the senior Rams performance in Eureka. "We went down there and took it to them - offensively and defensively." He says this first win of the season is an important confidence booster for the next match-up. Next Saturday, at the College of the Rockies field, the senior Rams will face the Columbia Valley Bighorns from Invermere for the first time since the Kootenay Bowl final last fall. Erichsen states the players are excited and nervous at the same time. "They've got a strong-armed quarterback, very capable linemen, and the best thing is, they come out to play," he points out.

Erichsen says his players are expecting the Bighorns to have impeccable timing and a few tricks up their sleeves. For about a month, he adds, his Rams have been talking about this game. "This is the strongest rivalry the Rocky Mountain Rams have," he believes.

Erichsen was also very impressed with the Bantam Rams' performance in Pincher Creek last Saturday. "This is a team that is developing a sense of chemistry that is phenomenal," he praises them. Erichsen attributes a large part of the success on the efforts of Bantam head coach Derrik Bishop, explaining he is a great coach, motivating the Rams and giving every kid a chance to play. Technically, Erichsen says, Bishop's main achievement is the development of a very strong passing game, something that is not common on the Bantam level.

Not resting on any accomplishments, but always striving for more, Erichsen is getting excited about a new development in the football scene in the Kootenays. At this time, he states, the Rocky Mountain Rams are in negotiations with Mount Baker Secondary School about the creation of a high school team in the future. "We're excited about the possibilities and what it would mean for the growth of football in the Kootenays," Erichsen feels. He expects to have more details within a couple of weeks.

Both Rocky Mountain Rams teams will be at home next Saturday, October 4. At 1 pm, the senior team will be taking on Invermere while the Bantam Rams are expecting Pincher Creek at 3 pm. For more news about the Rams, you can also check out their new website at www.rockymountainrams.ca.