ESTEVAN - Each of Estevan’s minor football teams had a chance to showcase their talents during the annual Football Weekend in Estevan at the Dana Quewezance Memorial Field at Woodlawn Athletic Park.
The Estevan Coldwell Banker Choice Real Estate U12 Chargers trounced the Weyburn Eagles 56-27 in the first game Saturday. Estevan trailed 7-6 after the first quarter, but scored four unanswered touchdowns to lead 30-7 at half-time.
Quarterback Kaleb Crossman had four touchdowns on the ground and two in the air.
“We ran the ball extremely well and blocked very well,” said head coach Matt Schell. “Our quarterback, he’s just very smart with the ball. He doesn’t turn it over. He makes the right decisions.”
In the second half, they started passing the ball more, and Crossman showed he could thrive again.
“He made the right throws, and the receivers made some good catches for us,” said Schell.
In the second half, they were able to get some playing time for the team’s back-ups, and they played well, too.
Hugh Ross had a punt return touchdown, and Nash Faber had his second interception in as many games, which he returned for a touchdown. TJ Thompson and Xander Pelletier had touchdown receptions.
Kaiden DeBruyne delivered a couple of huge blocks to generate big offensive plays.
It was the second straight week the Chargers put up at least 50 points against Weyburn.
The Chargers will play the top team in the league, the Moose Jaw Spartans, this coming weekend in Moose Jaw. Schell believes the Chargers have a good team, and this will be a good gage for them.
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The Estevan Lions Club U14 Oilers lost 40-26 to the Yorkton Gridders, a game that Estevan led 18-14 at half-time.
“Our offensive line played a lot better in this game,” said head coach Paul Duncan. “They were firing up and engaging a lot more, which was nice to see.”
Cooper Pukas had a couple of rushing touchdowns for Estevan.
But Yorkton found a way to put up points against Estevan’s defence. The Oilers have had a strong defence this season, and that was the case Saturday until the second half.
“We were down some bodies, and had some kids play two ways due to the low numbers that we had,” said Duncan.
Estevan started the game with 23 players, and had a couple more players go down due to injuries. By the end of the day, they were out of gas.
Duncan noted it was a nice, sunny day in Estevan, which is a contrast from previous editions of Football Weekend in Estevan, which have been cool, windy, rainy and even snowy.
He also noted that the young officiating crew did the best job that they could, and he would like to see some people step forward as officials.
Estevan will face Yorkton in a rematch on Saturday.
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The Estevan Kinette Club U18 Viragos dropped a 51-0 decision to the Melville Lady Vipers on Saturday evening.
While coach Mark Tribiger viewed it as a step back from their first game of the season, which they lost 35-0 to Regina, he did see some positives.
“Once we settled down and got back into it, the defence was playing really well,” said Tribiger. “On offence, we started moving the ball.”
On one possession, they pushed the ball down to the three-yard-line, but the drive stalled, and when they tried to kick a field goal, there was a bad snap.
The Viragos came out flat and made a lot of mental mistakes, which contributed to the lopsided score, he said.
“There was far less effort there than we put in against Regina,” said Tribiger.
Estevan will see Melville again later this season, and will apply the lessons they learned for that game. Their next contest is against Moosomin on Sept. 25 at 4 p.m. at Woodlawn Athletic Park.
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The Estevan Power Dodge Cudas hosted their annual jamboree Sunday afternoon, with three teams from Moose Jaw and two from Weyburn joining the two Estevan teams, the Cudas 1 and Cudas A.
Each team played two mini games in a three-hour span. Teams had six players on the field at once. A coach was allowed on the field with the players.
Cudas coach Kevin Mortenson said they don’t keep score.
“Getting the kids out on the field is a win to me, and they’re all learning, and that’s what it’s all about at this age,” said Mortenson. “It’s all about development.”
He was pleased with their effort, and he stressed to the kids that it was important to put in a good effort with so many people they know in attendance.
Alex Fornwald, a defender for Cudas 1, won the hard hat as the hardest working player.
As they progress to nine-player football, it’ll be more competitive, but right now, they’re teaching the basics.
The Cudas have one more jamboree in Moose Jaw on Sept. 26.
