After a short week of practice, the Yorkton PeeWee Gridders made history this past weekend on the hallowed ground at Mosaic Stadium.
The Gridders sent shockwaves through the Regina Minor Football ranks by defeating the Regina Patriots 26-12. Head Coach Jason Farrell explains the significance of the victory.
"In the history of Regina Minor Football, it is the first (time) one of their own Regina teams has lost to a team from Yorkton," Farrell details.
The week got off to a great start for the Gridders with their first two full-team practices. The return to the field was eagerly anticipated by the 12 and 13 year-olds, most of whom were newcomers to football in general.
"It's a pretty exciting day for Yorkton football and the Gridders," Farrell observed as he surveyed the practice field for the first time.
The chance to play at Mosaic Stadium was an opportunity treasured by coaches and players alike. The chance was afforded to the Gridders after their regular playing surface in Regina was unavailable due to large-scale renovations.
The Gridders took to the field last Saturday to play the Patriots, a squad from whom much is expected heading into the Regina Minor Football season.
Unfortunately for the Pats, the Gridders came to spoil the party.
The Yorktonites came out swinging to start the game. Running back Brendon Weber broke free for a long touchdown run to put the Gridders up 6-0, with three minutes remaining in the first quarter.
Tanner Mak supplied even more momentum for the visitors as he burst through the line and sacked the Patriots quarterback with a minute remaining in the opening quarter.
Weber was back it with another long TD run at 8:13 of the second quarter. Weber converted a 50-plus yard rush into another six points for the Gridders to put them up 12-0. Mak followed it up with another sack, almost a carbon copy of his first one, to send the game into the halftime break.
With spirits high at halftime, the Gridders knew that they were on the brink of history. However, the Patriots still had some say in the matter. Regina finally broke the goose egg with a touchdown seven minutes into the third quarter to reduce the deficit to six.
Again, phenom running back Weber responded. This time with a 32-yard touchdown scamper to put the Gridders up 20-6, following a successful two-point conversion.
With the fourth quarter winding down, the Patriots brought the Yorkton lead back down to eight points with a 36-yard touchdown pass.
Not to be outdone, Yorkton's Jaden Porte brought back the subsequent kickoff to the Patriots 49-yard line with an electrifying return. Porte had both sidelines on their feet as he bounced off tackles to cross midfield.
Weber and the offensive line then took the game into their hands, winding down the clock to 30 seconds and pinning the Patriots deep in their zone.
After a quick three-and-out, the Gridders put an exclamation point on the victory with a touchdown by Zacharia Kais with three seconds remaining.
Gridders running back Weber was predictably humble after this three- touchdown performance.
"I just ran with the ball," he recalls.
When prompted as to whether or not this was his best game as a football player, Weber responded with a smile, "Yeah, probably."
Head Coach Farrell was quick to communicate how proud he was of the players after the game.
The Gridders will put their perfect record on the line next Saturday at noon versus the Regina Riders. The game will be at Yorkton's Century Field behind Yorkton Regional High School.
