ESTEVAN - It's been a good start to the season for Penta Completions Estevan Minor Football.
The Estevan Coldwell Banker Choice Real Estate U13 Chargers football team has enjoyed a strong start to the season.
The Chargers trounced the Weyburn Eagles 50-12 on Saturday in Weyburn in their second game of the season. The win followed a 26-22 loss to the Moose Jaw Lions, who won the Moose Jaw Minor Football League’s U13 division last year.
“We have a lot of new faces this year, but it’s just a really good group of kids,” said head coach Matt Schell.
Against Weyburn, Estevan thrived in all three facets of the game – offence, defence and special teams. Quarterback Caleb Crossman scored three touchdowns on the ground and passed for another, while Hugh Ross had two rushing majors and one special teams score.
Out of the 25 players on the team, Estevan has just six back from last year. The players want to learn and they’re really competitive, Schell said, not just with the opposition, but with each other. And they’re good athletes.
The game against Moose Jaw was the first for many of the players, and it gave the team a lot of hope. A good week of practice followed, which translated to the blowout win over Weyburn.
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The Estevan Lions Club U15 Oilers started the season 1-1, after playing a home and home against the Moose Jaw Raiders.
Estevan won the first game 14-6 in Moose Jaw on Sept. 4, and lost a 14-6 decision on Sept. 10 at the Dana Quewezance Memorial Field at Woodlawn Athletic Park.
Coach Paul Duncan said they had scores on offence and defence in the first game against Moose Jaw, and they had a punt return for a touchdown on Friday.
“Our defence has been very stout for us,” said Tribiger. “It’s been solidified by some really good play by Peyton Tendler and Payton Klein, and followed by some of our other members on the front four.”
Nick Ogdanskiy has led the strong play on the defensive line.
Truman Ciepliski has scored a couple of touchdowns this season.
Twenty-seven players are on this year’s roster, including 12 returning players.
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The Estevan Kinette Club U18 Viragos female football team dropped their opening game of the season Saturday, 35-0 in Regina against the Victorias.
Despite the score, head coach Mark Tribiger said a lot of positives came out of the game. It was a good learning experience for the players.
Out of the 27 athletes on the team, about 12 are first-year players who were in their first game. Addison Shiels, Hailey Tangjerd, Skylar Milford, Trinity Cantin and Lily Hauber all had strong games for the Viragos. The offence played well, but stalled three times around the Victorias 10-yard line.
He’s also encouraged that the scores are much closer than at this time a year ago.
“I think this was one of the better scores we’ve actually had since the team started. Last year we were losing 66-0, 70-something to nothing, so 35-0, at this point, I’ll take it.”
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The Estevan Power Dodge U11 Cudas have had two jamborees so far this season.
Estevan visited Moose Jaw the first week and Weyburn the second. They were split into two teams and played games with six players on the field for each side. Weyburn and Moose Jaw also participated.
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This coming weekend marks the annual Football Weekend in Estevan. The Estevan Comprehensive School Elecs will host Weyburn on Friday night at 7 p.m.
Three games are slated for Saturday: the U12 Chargers versus Weyburn at noon, the U14 Oilers versus Yorkton at 3 p.m. and the Viragos against Melville at 6 p.m.
The Cudas will have their jamboree at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
