NORTHWEST - The Wilkie Broncs are folding.
Coach Greg Mamer cites a lack of bodies for the newly re-fledged team withdrawing from the league.
After a gritty win in their opening game against Kindersley, Wilkie football fans were looking forward to the return of football in their community.
“We were forced to fold for the season as we just did not have enough bodies. It was not safe to have kids play both ways for a whole game, which is what we were facing,” Mamer says.
Kerrobert Rebels opened their season with a decided 54-6 win over Eatonia. Wilkie forfeited game two in their schedule. Sept. 24, the Rebels defeated the Kindersley Kobras 29-8. With three wins to start the season, the Rebels will finish off their regular season against Macklin on Oct. 1, Kindersley on Oct. 8 and wrap up with a home game against the Unity Warriors on Oct. 15.
The Macklin Sabres started their season in the loss column, dropping games to both Unity and Kindersley. However, the team bounced back with a sound defeat of Eatonia with a score of 43-8. The Sabres are looking to regroup and stay strong for the last two games of regular season against Kerrobert Oct. 1 and a rematch at home against Eatonia on Oct. 8. Their last game of regular season was to be against Wilkie.
After a season opening win against Macklin, the Unity Warriors arrived in Eatonia, Sept. 16, ready to make their mark. With a decided victory of 62-21 on a cold and windy afternoon, the Warriors never looked back from the lead in the opening quarter, giving them two wins on the season.
“It was incredible windy in Eatonia Sept. 16, so we knew the game was going to be played on the ground," says Coach Clar.
"We played a more aggressive style defence, knowing they would have to keep the ball on the ground, and we were able to cause a lot of problems for their run game. For ourselves, we knew that running is our strength and fortunately, we were able to make good blocks, and our backs ran hard and made Eatonia miss tackles.”
Clark adds,” We are excited to have a couple new players joining our roster, we are trying to get lots of new guys and young guys reps so we can have a good rotation of players and help keep some of our seniors from having to play both sides of the football as much as they did in the early weeks.”
The Warriors were all set for a night lights game against Wilkie but that game was a forfeit. Wrapping up regular season play is a home game against Kindersley Oct. 1. The team will finish their season in Kerrobert Oct. 15.
See the SHSAA website for updated schedule, standings, and other football news.
