Despite losing their final game of the season and ending with a 1-6 record, the Weyburn Comp Eagles boys' football team will be moving on to the Regina Intercollegiate Football League playoffs this year, based on their strong defensive and offensive performance.

The Eagles played their final game of the regular season on Saturday at the Darold Kot Field against F.W. Johnson, the top team in the league. Prior to Saturday, Abel had said there was a small chance Johnson might hold back their key players in anticipation for the playoffs.

But that was not the case, as Johnson came out in full force and was able to defeat Weyburn 23-13.

Despite the loss, Abel said he was satisfied with their performance, as the Eagles were able to hold Johnson back for the majority of the game and shut down their key running back. "It's nice to see we were competitive against the highest team in the league," he said.

The game began with Mike Bell scoring a touchdown on a one-yard run, followed by a conversion by Rocky Stewart. But they were unable to maintain a lead, as Johnson scored a touchdown and conversion to tie the game.

Johnson then gained the lead in the second with a safety, followed by touchdown and conversion in the third.

Bell put the Eagles back in the game with a 10-yard running touchdown, and the game was held at 16-13 for most of the fourth. In the last few minutes, though, Johnson was able to score a final touchdown and conversion to end the game 23-13.

Abel praised the Eagles' performance, especially Bell, who scored two touchdowns this game; the Grade 11 student has rushed over 100 yards each game this year, despite some earlier injuries.

"He's been on quite a roll," said Abel.

But Abel noted that the Eagles could have done better if not for some mental errors; an example of this was when the Eagles made a dive play on Johnson's two-yard line, and the play fell apart.

"How much more simple is it to hand off a ball on a dive play?" said Abel.

Although Weyburn ends with a 1-6 record, they will move on to the playoffs based on points-for-and-against. The other two teams Weyburn was in direct competition with for a playoff spot, Notre Dame and Luther, also ended 1-6, but Abel said their losses this season were far more substantial.

"They were blown out of games," he said. "We've been in every game we played, including this one on Saturday."

Weyburn's first quarterfinal game will be played against the Usher Unicorns on Thursday, Oct. 25, at Taylor Field in Regina. Abel said although Weyburn lost to Usher earlier this year, they've been scoring touchdowns more evenly these last few games.

Abel's only concern is that all games will take place in Regina; for whatever reason, Weyburn has been fairly unsuccessful at every Regina game. Their worst losses this year came against Luther and Riffel, and both games were played at Taylor Field.

Abel said he had no idea why the Eagles have such a tough time in Regina. "If I knew what it took to win at Taylor Field, I would sell it to (Roughriders head coach) Danny Barrett," he said.

Weyburn's quarterfinal against Usher begins at 5 p.m.