Bantam Comets prepare for 2024 season

Posted on August 22, 2024 by admin

By Garrett Simmons
Westwind Weekly News

As the days on the calendar fall further into August one thing is a certainty every year – it’s time for football season.

The Southern Alberta Minor Football Association schedule kicks off in a few weeks, as bantam teams throughout the area prepare for another campaign on the gridiron.

For the Raymond Comets, work began on Monday (Aug. 19), in preparation for the team’s season opener on Aug. 31.

Head coach Jimmy Ralph added the coaching staff has some clear goals in mind for the first few weeks on the practice field.

“The first week will be building off of our spring camp and developing skills and determining roles of the players,” he said. “The following week we will start preparing for our first opponent.”

That first opponent will feature the Lethbridge Coyotes, as the Comets will head into the city on Aug. 31 for a 7:30 p.m. contest at the University of Lethbridge.

Raymond will lean on its second-year players throughout the 2024 season, with the goal of developing the newcomers as the season progresses.

“We have a strong group of Grade 9 boys and the Grade 8s will mostly learn from their leadership,” said Ralph, who highlighted a few players that will be key to his team’s success. “Jace Ralph, our QB, had lots of reps in our offense last year, so he will be more experienced and ready to lead the offense. Cache Beazer, Thomas Walburger and Khyrum Boehme will be our main playmakers.”

As always, expectations are high for this year’s version of the bantam Comets, as Ralph added from top to bottom, the 2024 roster is extremely solid.

“This is one of the strongest groups I have been a part of, and they are the most committed group I have had yet,” he said. “Our first goal is to improve each week but we want to bring the SAMFA title back to Raymond.”

A league title is just one step along the road, as the Comets will be looking to avenge last year’s 38-20 loss to the Lethbridge Rams in the league final. The Rams ultimately advanced to the Tier 1 provincial final, where Lethbridge lost 31-22 to the Calgary Cowboys. A spot in provincial final is where Ralph hopes his Comets end up in 2024.

“I do feel this team has a great opportunity to win a provincial title if things go our way and we can be physical while staying healthy.”

Raymond’s bantam program last won a provincial title back in 2021, when the Comets upended the Calgary Cowboys 9-0 in the championship game.