ESTEVAN - For the first time, the Estevan Lions Club U14 Oilers football team has won a regular season championship.
The Oilers blanked the Swift Current Steelers 52-0 on Sunday at the Dana Quewezance Memorial Field to wrap up the top spot in the Moose Jaw Minor Football League during the regular season. The Oilers (5-1) will get a first-round bye, and will play the lowest-seeded team remaining in the semifinal round.
Coach Christian Pfeifer said it was a nearly flawless game for the Oilers. They came out strong, took an early lead, had a 32-0 advantage at halftime and didn't let up on either side of the ball.
TJ Thompson, Taya Stigings and Ryder Mantei each had two touchdowns for Estevan. Waylon Mantei and Hayden Tokarchuk had Estevan's other majors.
Pfeifer said it will be nice to get a week off so some players can rest nagging injuries.
"I know these kids are eager to play. They love the sport and you can see it every time they go out there, so it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to have a game this weekend, but at the same time, these kids have earned that weekend off," said Pfeifer.
Many of the players on the Oilers were part of the Estevan U12 Chargers program that won a league title in 2021 and reached the league final the next year, and Pfeifer said that experience will help in the postseason.
"They know what it takes to win that championship, and they know that it's not going to be a cakewalk through the playoffs, and they know that the championship isn't going to be handed to them on a silver platter. It's going to take a lot of work, but we have a lot of players who know it's going to take a lot of work," said Pfeifer.
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The Estevan Power Dodge U12 Chargers dropped a 39-25 decision on the road to the Moose Jaw Spartans on Saturday.
Coach James Haagsman said the game was tied 13-13 at halftime, but then the Spartans found a way to stop the Chargers' running game in the second half. Dexx Tendler had all four of Estevan's touchdowns.
Haagsman noted Tendler benefitted from some key blocks by tight end Merrick Ross.
Also, Haagsman believes the defence is starting to gain its identity as a unit, and they had a few key stops in the first half.
"That is what we are going to need in the playoffs," he said.
Estevan (2-4) finished fourth in the Moose Jaw league during the regular season and will host a playoff game at Woodlawn against the Assiniboia Rockets. The date and time have yet to be determined.
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The Estevan Comprehensive School Elecs football team lost 48-30 to Moose Jaw Peacock on Saturday.
Coach Chris Bayerle said ECS starting quarterback Tristan Tober was injured in the third quarter, but they rallied afterwards and Estevan put up 22 unanswered points. Dorian Sifton, who finished the game at quarterback, recorded two touchdowns and a pair of two-point converts. Mason Beriault and Justin Folbar also recorded majors.
Despite having three sacks, a fumble recovery and an interception, Bayerle said they gave up too many points in the first half.
The Elecs played into the stiff 90-kilometre per hour wind for the first quarter and Bayerle said Moose Jaw stuffed Estevan's ground game.
The Elecs (0-5) will wrap up the regular season on Oct. 12 with a game against the Weyburn Comprehensive School Eagles. It is the annual senior game in which all of the Grade 12 students will be recognized.
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The Southeast U18 Estevan Kinette Club Viragos lost 68-9 at Swan Valley, Man., on Saturday, in the first-ever out-of-province game for a team in Brandt Peterbilt Estevan Minor Football.
Coach Mark Walliser said Kassidy Wallington shifted from tight end to running back and scored a touchdown. The other points came through safety after the efforts of the defence.
The Viragos had a reduced roster due to injuries, and had to contend with wind, rain and cold in Swan Valley.
Up next for the Viragos is their bye week, which will give them an opportunity to recover before playing Swan Valley again on Oct. 19 at Woodlawn.
