Grade 12 Unity Warrior football player Gavin Dyck was part of the May long weekend North vs South Combine football game that took place at Mosaic Stadium in Regina.
The event consisted of two practices a day from Friday to Sunday. Saturday all athletes were required to attend a one-hour drug awareness seminar at the University of Regina. Sunday a banquet was available for all participating athletes to attend.
Gavin’s six-man North vs South game was Monday. The North team defeated the South team by a score of 20-14. The weekend included 12-man and nine-man games as well.
Team North, which included Gavin, took only two downs to score the first touchdown. Team North was very strong in the first quarter, leading by a score of 14-0; however Team South was not backing down and they dominated the second quarter, tying the game at 14-14 going to half-time. Team North showed their offensive and defensive strengths in the second half and secured the win.
Gavin said he experienced a range of emotions from initially being unsure if he would make the team to playing a big part in the winning of the six-man senior bowl. It was also his first steps into Mosaic Stadium. Now he is not only a fan but has had the unique experience of planting his cleats on Saskatchewan Roughrider turf. It is a one-of-a-kind experience and Gavin felt honoured to be part of it. He added, “All the coaching staff, medical staff, fellow athletes and volunteers were all first class.”
What made this experience even more unique is that a familiar man in stripes was on the field, going by the name of “Doc” Clark. Clark, a long-time football official from Unity, was selected as one of the officials for this event, making this his fourth time officiating at a senior bowl.
Clark said he chooses to do this because “it is a great experience. It is great football as it is the very best of the high school players and you get to meet a lot of other officials. As well, there is the added bonus, as a fan of the Riders, of officiating on the Riders’ field rather than just watching from the stands.”
Gavin is Clark’s great-nephew. “That was another added bonus,” he said.
In 2008 Clark officiated the 12-man game and in 2012 the nine-man game. He officiated in both games last year.
“This year I was an official for the six-man game meaning, by coincidence, I was officiating the game Gavin played in.”
According to the Football Saskatchewan website, “The intent of the Ed Henick Senior Bowl game is to showcase the best high school football players who have used their last year of eligibility in a North vs South all-star game. The game features the top 45 graduating high school players from the northern and southern parts of the province. The game was developed to promote and further develop the game of football for residents of Saskatchewan. This game is a showcase for all scouts, coaches, players and fans that love and have contributed to the game of football in Saskatchewan.”
