The Steinbach Regional Secondary School's varsity football team's 2017 season is over.

The Sabres dropped a 38-21 decision to the Sisler Spartans in the Winnipeg High School Football League's John Potter AAA Division quarterfinals Friday night at East Side Eagles Field.

"We came out a bit slow and didn't seem like we were ready to compete," said SRSS head coach Jamie Peters. "Cade Penner steps up with a big play - an interception after we are trailing by 10 and then we have a bunch of players step up to make big plays and keep the game competitive."
 
Sheycoy Selent's 13 yard touchdown catch with 16 seconds left in the second quarter cut the Spartans lead to 17-14 at halftime.

Sisler outscored the Sabres 21-7 over the final 24 minutes.

"We hurt ourselves with some penalties in key situations and a few mental breakdowns but we battled and competed and I am proud of that," said coach Peters. "We fought and played until the final whistle, that is something to be proud of. The game was closer than the score lets on. We just ran out of gas and they were able to pull away in the fourth quarter."

After Sisler found the SRSS end zone on their opening possession of the second half to increase their lead to 24-14, a penalty on the ensuing kickoff cost the Sabres seven points as Selent's 95 yard return was called back because of an illegal block.

Steinbach Regional quarterback Sawyer Thiessen completed 16-of-37 passes for 264 yards and two touchdowns.

Eric Adams caught nine passes for 182 yards and a touchdown and got the Sabres on the board when he threw a 32 yard pass to Tyler Bueckert on a successful fake field goal in the first quarter.

Coach Peters, who watched his football team lose five games by 17 points or less playing against the best high school football teams in the province, says year one in the Potter Division was a success.

"We belong in this division of football. All of the players who have ever wore a Sabres uniform have earned the right and the respect to be amongst the elite. To all those players, former and current I can not thank you enough. We have built a great program in our school and we will continue to do so and we will continue to get better."

"The addition of JV football will pay huge dividends for the growth of players and coaches," added Peters. "The next step is to have players commit to the off-season weight training so we can compete physically with these teams. Great things lie ahead! Every Sabre should be proud of what they have done and our doing. This is our school, our team, and we will continue to be better."