The Humboldt Collegiate Institute (HCI) Mohawks nine-man football team was defeated for the third time this season, again at the hands of the Melfort Comets on Friday at Glenn Hall Park.The final score was 45-14 for the Comets.The Comets' high-powered offence was just too much for the Mohawks as they opened the game up in the second quarter with three quick touchdowns. "They have excellent receivers that really get off the line of scrimmage quickly, we have a really hard time containing their speed," commented HCI defensive back coach Tom Schwinghamer. The Mohawk offence really struggled to finish off any drives in the first half, resulting in some very short fields for the defence. "We moved the ball well in the first half, but do not seem to have that extra finish that we really need when we are in the red zone," noted Josh Kovach, HCI quarterback coach. That resulted in a score of 35-0 for Melfort at the half.The Mohawk offence was held to 14 points in the second half - points that were scored versus some of Melfort's rookie defensive players late in the second half. The Mohawks will now turn their attention to the playoffs this Saturday, when they host the Clavet Cougars at Glenn Hall Park in Humboldt at 1 p.m. "The playoffs are really what the game is all about. It is so exciting to play to sudden death football from here on in," stated Humboldt Grade 12 receiver Tanner Syroteuk. The Mohawks are looking to knock Clavet out of the playoffs after a very lopsided loss last year in the same game. "We still have not forgotten when they rolled us last year on our home field in Humboldt in the playoffs," commented HCI Grade 12 middle linebacker Aaron Turchyn.Extra PointThe Mohawk players will be wearing pink ankle spats and pink wrist tape in support of breast cancer on Saturday for the playoff game. "We like to show support and teach our players the value of community any way we can, " explained Mohawks' defensive coordinator and HCI principal Cory Popoff.The Mohawks would also like to indicate to fans that there will be an admission charge on Saturday for all adults, and students. Those aged 12 and under will get in free. The other playoff match-up will feature the host Melfort Comets against the L.P. Miller Bears from Nipawin. The winners of both games will go on to represent the Conference One nine-man football league against the North West conference on Saturday, November 3 in the first round of provincial playoffs.
