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More on the Bonners Ferry/Lethbridge Rivalry
About the Lethbridge Team . . . .
Copyright 2012 Boundary County Live.
All rights reserved.
All rights reserved.
actually one of five high schools in the city of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada--four public high schools
Located across the border into Canada, a 5 1/2 hour drive from Bonners Ferry, the Lethbridge
power. LCI has won six Alberta provincial football titles--the equivalent of winning a state
championship here. Their 2010 team (victors over Bonners Ferry by a 33-20 score) had 8 wins and
only a single loss in their league play. With a student enrollment of 894 students, LCI would be
classified in Idaho as a 4A school for high school sports.
So why is a big Canadian high school football power playing Bonners Ferry every year? Apparently,
the series began back in 1999, when a game was scheduled by coaches at the schools who were
acquainted with each other. The rivalry has continued every year since, this year being the 14th
consecutive year the LCI Rams have played the Badgers in the opening weeks of the football season.
Although LCI has played other regional teams over the years, occasionally playing other
Intermountain League teams or other North Idaho teams, the constant has been the Bonners Ferry vs
LCI game.
Apparently the Lethbridge Collegiate Institute team loves to travel. They have made long distance
road trips one of the hallmarks of their football program. Last year they had Mountain View High
School in Utah on their schedule, and the year before they traveled to Hawaii where, when they
weren't playing multiple games against Hawaiian football teams, they were touring the islands and
Washington, Idaho, Montana, Utah, and Hawaii.
How can they afford these remarkable road trips? The team's parents' group is very active--their
fundraising efforts help raise money for the team's travel. Often parents will travel to the game
locations with the team, such as their trip to Hawaii where a large group of parents accompanied the
football team to see the Islands.
Aside from the obvious fun of traveling the world to play football, another advantage the LCI team is
seeking as they travel to play U.S. high school football teams is the opportunity to line up against
experienced U.S. teams. The coaching staff at LCI believes that playing these teams provides LCI
with good, challenging playing experiences against relatively strong U.S. opponents that will
ultimately help the Rams when they return to Alberta to play other Canadian teams--hopefully helping
the team to achieve more of those 8-1 seasons and provincial titles!
But let's get back to LCI and Bonners Ferry. As they seek out games to play around the Western
U.S., LCI always makes a point of playing Bonners Ferry.
"We do have a good relationship with Bonners Ferry," said Trish Syme, Vice Principal and Athletic
Director at Lethbridge Collegiate Institute. "The Bonners Ferry football team and parents are very
good to us. Bonners Ferry is always the highlight of the season."
Over the years, the Bonners Ferry High School administrative and athletic staff have tried to make
LCI's stay in Bonners Ferry a good one. Along with providing a competitive football game for the
Rams, school administrators have provided a place for the team to stay in the school when needed,
and they always put together a nice dinner for their Lethbridge guests to enjoy in the school cafeteria.
But along with all the niceness, the teams are there to play football. And they have had some very
memorable games over the years. Some years they play by U.S. rules, and some years by Canadian
rules. You can see the overall series Win/Loss Record below at the end of this article.
Here are some of the more memorable games:
One Point Game, 1999
They don't get more memorable than the very first game the teams played back in 1999. The teams
battled it out throughout the game, and with about a minute to go, LCI led the Badgers 27-20.
Bonners Ferry took the ball and was able to score in the closing seconds to bring the Badgers to
within one point at 27-26. Coach Ted Reynolds opted to go for the win with a 2 point PAT. The
pass for the win from quarterback Andy Rice to receiver Drew Hiatt was knocked down, and the
Rams escaped with a one point victory, 27-26.
Rams Pull Out Win at End, 2001
In the 2001 game, Bonners Ferry fell behind by 14 points in the first quarter, only to roar back by
scoring 14 of their own to tie the game in the second quarter. LCI scored again in the third quarter
to once again take the lead. The Badgers matched that score to tie it up again at 21 in the third
quarter. With 7 minutes to go in the game, the Badgers finally took their first lead on a Ben Greenslit
field goal. LCI was not finished however, and broke out a 42 yard run for a touchdown that ended
the scoring at 27-24 and gave the Rams the win.
Homecoming Game, 2002
In 2002, Bonners Ferry designated the LCI game as the Homecoming game for the year. In the
spirit of Homecoming, Bonners Ferry defeated the Rams 33-14, as quarterback Ben Greenslit passed
for 215 yards and the Badger defense stopped LCI drives four times inside the Badger 20 yard line.
Last Minute Victory, 2003
In the 2003 game, Lethbridge Collegiate had the lead at the end with less than a minute to go, when
Bonners Ferry's Jacob High scored a touchdown with only 56 seconds remaining in the game.
Bonners Ferry won 16-10.
Another One Point Game, 2006
A low scoring game in 2006 was memorable--the Badgers won by a score of 7-6 when they broke
through and blocked what would have been the tying extra point attempt following LCI's only
touchdown. Not only that, but the Badgers successfully blocked two LCI field goal attempts during
the game--a total of three blocked kicks by the Badgers in a single game. This 2006 victory marked
the 5th consecutive win over LCI for the Badgers--Bonners Ferry won every game from 2002
through 2006. However, 2006 is also the last year Bonners Ferry won their annual game with
Lethbridge Collegiate.
Lightning Intervenes, 2007
In 2007, Lethbridge was leading Bonners Ferry 13-0 at halftime. The second half of that game was
canceled due to lightning strikes, giving LCI the victory in a weather-shortened game.
Playing to a Tie, 2009
The 2009 game ended in a 13-13 tie. That year Bonners Ferry had only 24 players on their team.
Not wanting to send those players, already worn out from playing a full game, back onto the field to
play even longer in a tie-breaker, the coaches mutually agreed to end the game at a 13-13 tie.
Recent Years, 2010 and 2011
Lethbridge Collegiate won the 2010 meeting between the teams by a score of 33-20. In 2011
Lethbridge Collegiate won by the lopsided score of 42-0.
The competitive relationship between the two schools has been fun and has been a good experience
for the teams, the athletes, and the families involved. The spirit of this relationship is illustrated in a
letter Boundary County Live received following one BFHS vs LCI football game, sent by the parent
of one of the LCI players: "Sad to say that this was my family's last trip to Bonners Ferry, as my
youngest of 3 football playing sons is in his last year of high school. We have certainly enjoyed this
long time relationship between our two schools and the great games the teams have had over the
years. BFHS have been fantastic hosts to our team."
So once again Bonners Ferry welcomes their guests from the Lethbridge Collegiate Institute, for the
2012 version of their now annual competition. Have a great game!
Located across the border into Canada, a 5 1/2 hour drive from Bonners Ferry, the Lethbridge
power. LCI has won six Alberta provincial football titles--the equivalent of winning a state
championship here. Their 2010 team (victors over Bonners Ferry by a 33-20 score) had 8 wins and
only a single loss in their league play. With a student enrollment of 894 students, LCI would be
classified in Idaho as a 4A school for high school sports.
So why is a big Canadian high school football power playing Bonners Ferry every year? Apparently,
the series began back in 1999, when a game was scheduled by coaches at the schools who were
acquainted with each other. The rivalry has continued every year since, this year being the 14th
consecutive year the LCI Rams have played the Badgers in the opening weeks of the football season.
Although LCI has played other regional teams over the years, occasionally playing other
Intermountain League teams or other North Idaho teams, the constant has been the Bonners Ferry vs
LCI game.
Apparently the Lethbridge Collegiate Institute team loves to travel. They have made long distance
road trips one of the hallmarks of their football program. Last year they had Mountain View High
School in Utah on their schedule, and the year before they traveled to Hawaii where, when they
weren't playing multiple games against Hawaiian football teams, they were touring the islands and
Washington, Idaho, Montana, Utah, and Hawaii.
How can they afford these remarkable road trips? The team's parents' group is very active--their
fundraising efforts help raise money for the team's travel. Often parents will travel to the game
locations with the team, such as their trip to Hawaii where a large group of parents accompanied the
football team to see the Islands.
Aside from the obvious fun of traveling the world to play football, another advantage the LCI team is
seeking as they travel to play U.S. high school football teams is the opportunity to line up against
experienced U.S. teams. The coaching staff at LCI believes that playing these teams provides LCI
with good, challenging playing experiences against relatively strong U.S. opponents that will
ultimately help the Rams when they return to Alberta to play other Canadian teams--hopefully helping
the team to achieve more of those 8-1 seasons and provincial titles!
But let's get back to LCI and Bonners Ferry. As they seek out games to play around the Western
U.S., LCI always makes a point of playing Bonners Ferry.
"We do have a good relationship with Bonners Ferry," said Trish Syme, Vice Principal and Athletic
Director at Lethbridge Collegiate Institute. "The Bonners Ferry football team and parents are very
good to us. Bonners Ferry is always the highlight of the season."
Over the years, the Bonners Ferry High School administrative and athletic staff have tried to make
LCI's stay in Bonners Ferry a good one. Along with providing a competitive football game for the
Rams, school administrators have provided a place for the team to stay in the school when needed,
and they always put together a nice dinner for their Lethbridge guests to enjoy in the school cafeteria.
But along with all the niceness, the teams are there to play football. And they have had some very
memorable games over the years. Some years they play by U.S. rules, and some years by Canadian
rules. You can see the overall series Win/Loss Record below at the end of this article.
Here are some of the more memorable games:
One Point Game, 1999
They don't get more memorable than the very first game the teams played back in 1999. The teams
battled it out throughout the game, and with about a minute to go, LCI led the Badgers 27-20.
Bonners Ferry took the ball and was able to score in the closing seconds to bring the Badgers to
within one point at 27-26. Coach Ted Reynolds opted to go for the win with a 2 point PAT. The
pass for the win from quarterback Andy Rice to receiver Drew Hiatt was knocked down, and the
Rams escaped with a one point victory, 27-26.
Rams Pull Out Win at End, 2001
In the 2001 game, Bonners Ferry fell behind by 14 points in the first quarter, only to roar back by
scoring 14 of their own to tie the game in the second quarter. LCI scored again in the third quarter
to once again take the lead. The Badgers matched that score to tie it up again at 21 in the third
quarter. With 7 minutes to go in the game, the Badgers finally took their first lead on a Ben Greenslit
field goal. LCI was not finished however, and broke out a 42 yard run for a touchdown that ended
the scoring at 27-24 and gave the Rams the win.
Homecoming Game, 2002
In 2002, Bonners Ferry designated the LCI game as the Homecoming game for the year. In the
spirit of Homecoming, Bonners Ferry defeated the Rams 33-14, as quarterback Ben Greenslit passed
for 215 yards and the Badger defense stopped LCI drives four times inside the Badger 20 yard line.
Last Minute Victory, 2003
In the 2003 game, Lethbridge Collegiate had the lead at the end with less than a minute to go, when
Bonners Ferry's Jacob High scored a touchdown with only 56 seconds remaining in the game.
Bonners Ferry won 16-10.
Another One Point Game, 2006
A low scoring game in 2006 was memorable--the Badgers won by a score of 7-6 when they broke
through and blocked what would have been the tying extra point attempt following LCI's only
touchdown. Not only that, but the Badgers successfully blocked two LCI field goal attempts during
the game--a total of three blocked kicks by the Badgers in a single game. This 2006 victory marked
the 5th consecutive win over LCI for the Badgers--Bonners Ferry won every game from 2002
through 2006. However, 2006 is also the last year Bonners Ferry won their annual game with
Lethbridge Collegiate.
Lightning Intervenes, 2007
In 2007, Lethbridge was leading Bonners Ferry 13-0 at halftime. The second half of that game was
canceled due to lightning strikes, giving LCI the victory in a weather-shortened game.
Playing to a Tie, 2009
The 2009 game ended in a 13-13 tie. That year Bonners Ferry had only 24 players on their team.
Not wanting to send those players, already worn out from playing a full game, back onto the field to
play even longer in a tie-breaker, the coaches mutually agreed to end the game at a 13-13 tie.
Recent Years, 2010 and 2011
Lethbridge Collegiate won the 2010 meeting between the teams by a score of 33-20. In 2011
Lethbridge Collegiate won by the lopsided score of 42-0.
The competitive relationship between the two schools has been fun and has been a good experience
for the teams, the athletes, and the families involved. The spirit of this relationship is illustrated in a
letter Boundary County Live received following one BFHS vs LCI football game, sent by the parent
of one of the LCI players: "Sad to say that this was my family's last trip to Bonners Ferry, as my
youngest of 3 football playing sons is in his last year of high school. We have certainly enjoyed this
long time relationship between our two schools and the great games the teams have had over the
years. BFHS have been fantastic hosts to our team."
So once again Bonners Ferry welcomes their guests from the Lethbridge Collegiate Institute, for the
2012 version of their now annual competition. Have a great game!
2007: Lethbridge Collegiate 13-0
(game called at halftime due to lightning)
2008: Lethbridge Collegiate 39-14
2009: Tie 13-13
2010: Lethbridge Collegiate 33-20
2011: Lethbridge Collegiate 42-0
(game called at halftime due to lightning)
2008: Lethbridge Collegiate 39-14
2009: Tie 13-13
2010: Lethbridge Collegiate 33-20
2011: Lethbridge Collegiate 42-0