LAS VEGAS - Three players from Penta Completions Estevan Minor Football were part of the Sask. Selects team that competed at the One & Only Football Tournament in Las Vegas during the American Thanksgiving long weekend.
This is a large tournament with divisions as young as six-and-under, right on up to varsity (high school) age. Several teams from Canada and Mexico joined entries from California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Texas and Alaska.
Three local athletes travelled to the tournament. Dane Tober and Mason Lesy, who played this fall for the Estevan Coldwell Banker Choice Real Estate U12 Chargers, and Dane Hogg, a member of the Estevan Lions Club U14 Oilers, were in Vegas with the Sask Selects.
The boys participated in a summer tryout/skills camp put on by the Sask Selects, and were asked to join the Vegas tournament rosters. Training began as soon as minor football playoffs wrapped up and continued every weekend in November at the Yara Centre in Moose Jaw.
Hogg and the 13U Selects faced the Las Vegas Sun Devils in their first game of the tournament. The teamwork, talent and athleticism of the Sun Devils was impressive, and the Selects could not contain them. This early loss in the tournament sent the 13U Selects directly to the consolation bracket.
They played a team from Bakersfield, Calif., in a more evenly matched and entertaining battle. Hogg, at middle linebacker, played a strong game. The Selects won in what was their last game of the tournament.
Tober, Lesy and the 10U Selects squared off first with the Antelope Valley ‘Lopes, Calif. The ‘Lopes were more physically aggressive than what the Canadian players were used to, but they rose to the challenge quickly and managed to win the game. This win kept them in the top bracket and secured them another two games.
The second game, against the Las Vegas Knights, was another tough, gritty game. The Selects had many good runs and plays, but lost this match, dropping them out of championship contention and into the consolation bracket.
The third game was a matchup with the Cowboys from Anchorage. This was a back-and-forth game, with the Cowboys winning by a touchdown. Lesy played on the defensive line at nose tackle for the tournament, while Tober was on the offensive line at right tackle.
In the coming months Hogg, Lesy and Tober will join several more Estevan players as they continue to train with Sask. Selects for the Pigskin Classic in San Antonio in February 2023.
