Estevan Century 21 peewee Chargers running back Kyle Mack carried in a 42-yard touchdown to put the team up 20-19 on the host Moose Jaw Vikings last Wednesday at Elks Field and a strong defensive effort over the next 15 minutes made the lead stand.
With the victory the Chargers (4-2) move within striking distance of second place in the Moose Jaw Minor Football league standings with all teams having one game left to play.
Jason Bresciani, head coach of the Chargers, said the game that got them to this spot was very intense and an equal effort from both teams. He said the momentum shifted back-and-forth throughout the game, but they managed to tighten up defensively in the fourth and held onto the victory.
“The fourth quarter they tried to push and we kept them in their half the whole quarter,” said Bresciani. “Defensively we played really strong and offensively we kept moving the ball. When we did turn it over on downs they were deep in their end, so it turned out the best for us.”
Mack got the Chargers on the board with 48 seconds left in the first quarter on a score from two yards out. He put the team up 12-0 shortly into the second quarter on a three-yard touchdown, with Alec Waldegger making the convert to bring the score to 14-0.
The Vikings’ Kayde Shymko helped the Vikings to move to within one by halftime through a 55-yard score with 8:47 left and another with less than 14 seconds remaining. Halfway through the third, the Vikings’ Drake Luebke recorded an 18-yard touchdown, which was followed by Mack’s touchdown hat trick with 3:33 remaining in the frame.
“Standouts, I can’t pinpoint one,” said Bresciani about his team’s effort in the win. “Everyone who was dressed deserved that. They all played well.”
The Chargers can now lock up second place and secure a bye into the semifinals if the Vikings (5-1) lose to the Weyburn Eagles (6-0) next week and they defeat the Moose Jaw Bombers (1-4) at Dana Quewezance Memorial Field on Oct. 16.
“We have to win and we need help,” said Bresciani, noting they will have a home game to start the playoffs no matter what. “If we end up getting third, (we play) either the 20 or 21. Second round, if we’re in second place, would be the 23.”
