The Yorkton Peewee Gridders proved they are the team to beat in the Regina Minor Football League (RMFL) Peewee Division on Sunday, dismantling the previously undefeated Regina Vikings 52-0.
Sunday鈥檚 victory leaves the Gridders tied atop the RMFL Peewee Division with the Balgonie North Griffins at 3-0, while the Regina Razorbacks and Regina Riders are tied for third at 2-0.
The Patriots, Vikings and Mustangs all sit at 2-1 on the season, followed by the Thunder at 1-2.
Five teams remain winless in the 2015 season as the Argos, Golden Hawks and Huskies sit at 0-2 while the Balgonie 麻豆传媒AV Griffins and Rams both 0-3.
Quarterback Riley Clarke was 10-for-15 thru the air for 165 yards, 60 of which went to Josh Haczkewicz on just two receptions.
Haczkewicz also ran for 65 yards on just three carries while finding the end zone twice.
Running back Willen Deo Paligan also had a strong game offensively. The Peewee Gridder offensive leader picked up 145 yards on 10 carries for three touchdowns to help power the dominant Peewee Gridder offence.
Defensively Peewee Gridder captain Brad Heskin was a force, registering several bone-jarring hits including two quarterback sacks, one of which resulted in a fumble. Fayden Gramyk also shook up the Viking offence on Sunday with five tackles, one sack and a fumble recovery.
Heskin鈥檚 fellow defensive captain Steven Smith also had a strong game on Sunday, involving himself in multiple tackles while being a vocal leader both on and off the field. 鈥淥ur defensive captains, Brad Heskin and Steven Smith, played strong again,鈥� offered Peewee Gridder head coach Grant Edgar following the game. 鈥淏rad Heskin plays defensive end and he was an absolute game changer out there today and Steven Smith plays middle linebacker and he鈥檚 a great captain.
鈥淗e鈥檚 always leading guys and helping them out on the field, so those two were definitely standouts today for us.鈥�
Overall Edgar felt that the 52-0 win, a game in which the Gridders scored 30 points in the first quarter to completely deflate the Vikings, was one of, if not their best, performance so far. 鈥淭his was by far our best all-around game,鈥� mentioned Edgar, continuing, 鈥淲e had two quick turnovers on the first two plays on special teams and that was a huge momentum turner for us and it left them a little bit deflated and because of that we just kept rolling with the momentum. The kids played really well and it was good. All the defence, everyone. Groups One, Two, the first year guys and second year guys, everyone played a team game, bought in and it was good.
鈥淲e鈥檙e starting to build something special here and it鈥檚 nice to be on the flip side and the positive side of these games. We鈥檙e starting to let teams know that they have to come to play when the Gridders roll into town. It鈥檚 a good feeling for the coaches, the players, the parents, everyone.鈥�
The next action for the Yorkton Peewee Gridders is Saturday, September 5, when they travel to Regina to take on the Regina Argos. Game time is set for 5:45p.m.
