Pirates chase, contain, capture Canadian Comets

POLSON – The Polson Pirates opened their fall football campaign a little bit differently than in seasons past by engaging in  some international relations by tangling tackles as well as testing their talent against the visiting Raymond Comets from Alberta, Canada.  For those unfamiliar with Albertan geography, Raymond is situated about halfway along an imaginary perpendicular line between Lethbridge and the US border with a slight jaunt to the east. After a few uneventful series by the offenses from both teams, it would be the Pirates chasing the Comets when the visitors unleased a 64 yard rumble into the end zone to tally the first score on the scoreboard.  But Polson would respond right back with a scoring drive of their own when Matt Rensvold reeled in a Tanner Wilson pass to take the lead 7-6, followed by  a quarterback keeper to make it 14-6 entering the second period.  Wilson would hit receiver Hudson Smith for another score with Jake Harrod kicking his third extra point to extend the lead further to 21-6 in favor of the Pirates.  Just when the host team was beginning to feel in control of their own destiny, the Comets dipped into their playbook for a bit of razzle dazzle when their quarterback threw what initially appeared to be an ordinary pass to their wide receiver, who then threw it back to the quarterback, who then rethrew the pass to  the same receiver now very open heading down the sideline to cap off the second Raymond scoring drive to trim the margin to 21-13 after the extra point.  The play bore all the earmarks of a design play, but conversation with one of the coaching staff after the game revealed that the play by design initially had another target in mind, but Polson defensive coverage forced their quarterback to improvise, finding an open Rhett Ellingson running down the sideline for his second TD.