They started the scoring early and just didn't quit.
In the Humboldt Collegiate Institute (HCI) Mohawks football team's first home action of the season, they gave the ball to the LP Miller Bears of Nipawin on the opening kick-off.
On their first play from scrimmage, the Bears gave it right back. And then they gave it back and gave it back again.
Turnovers, an on-side kick recovered by the home side, and two and outs plagued the visitors throughout the first quarter.
The Mohawks capitalized with touchdown passes to Ryan Stumborg and Drew Thiemann. Quarterback Jordan Gerwing also parcelled the ball out to Josh Giddings who rambled in from 10 yards out.
Justin Lakness tackled the Bears' quarterback for a safety after a botched snap on the next possession. Then Gerwing guided the offence down the field for yet another touchdown, this one scored by Stumborg on the ground.
Even the defence got into the act as linebacker Jordan Hilgers scored after a Bears fumble in the end zone. That put the Mohawks up 34-0 after just under eight minutes of play.
"I don't think that's the start (new Bears head coach) Kyle Stroeder wanted," offered Shaun Gardiner, HCI head coach. "But I have to give credit to our offence which didn't waste opportunities. They had a good week of practice and it carried over."
The momentum of the first quarter didn't quite carry over into the next as a Mohawk drive stalled at the Bear 20 yard line.
Stumborg missed the field goal attempt but good hustle by the coverage players earned a single.
"It (the score) gave some of our young guys a chance to get some reps," said HCI coach Gavin Paulsen.
Indeed, after two more unconverted touchdowns, Gerwing's day was done as backup Daegan Engele went under center.
A steady stream of reserve players rotated into the game at other positions as well. The Bears responded with a touchdown into the south end zone after an extended drive.
The half time score was 47-14 after a fumbled exchange between Engele and a running back popped right into the Bears' hands and was returned for a touchdown.
Neither side was able to muster up many points in the second half. A Mohawk single in the third and a Bears safety in the fourth made the final score 48-16.
Mohawks assistant coach Blair Wourms declared, "I think we were just very physical, on both sides of the ball."
Defensive co-ordinator Brian Hinz agreed. "We pursued to the ball very well. And when we got there we created collisions. It was team defence."
Indeed, there were often three or four Mohawks making the stop at the point of attack. Mohawk coach Clayton Parobec did single out Josh Giddings's play, "He was just a force in nearly every facet of the game: running, catching, kicking, punting."
With the win, HCI moves to 2-0 atop the conference with a game in hand. The Mohawks return to action at home next Friday at 4 p.m. versus Tisdale.
This past weekend saw the Junior Mohawks invade Glenn Hall Park for the Rookie Jamboree. A second-last-play touchdown strike from Reid Gardiner to Colin Mueller lifted the home side over Watrous 20-18 in the team's first game. The Mohawks went on to defeat Melville and Delisle in other action.
