The Yorkton Pee Wee Gridders have improved to 5-1 this season following yet another decisive victory.
With a 32-6 romp over the Regina Minor Football Warriors, the Gridders appear to have a much bigger prize in mind than just simply a playoff berth.
"We have a very real chance of hosting a playoff game here," Head Coach Jason Farrell points out.
The Gridders started out strong during last Saturday's clash. Already up 12-6, running back Brendon Weber broke away from the Warrior defenders for yet another touchdown run. The major extended the Gridder lead to 18-6 with just a minute to go before halftime.
The Yorktonites almost put another score on the board before the halftime buzzer - unfortunately a touchdown reception by Zacharia Kais was wiped out due to an offside penalty.
The third quarter was a defensive struggle for the most part with the Gridders able to put a clamp down on the Warriors running game.
Linebacker Jaden Porte lead the way with a sack and some solid tackling for a Yorkton defence that was not to be outdone.
The Gridders used the momentum seized by the defence to put the game out of reach as the third quarter ticked down.
Quarterback Nick Payne, forced to play the entire game due to an injury to fellow QB Ryan Krochak, connected with Weber (again) for a 46-yard touchdown strike. With that score, the lead was extended to 24-6.
Cole Burkholder would later finish off another drive with a one-yard touchdown reception from Payne to put the game completely out of reach.
The Gridder defence resisted any comeback attempts by the Warriors in the final frame. Brett Harasymuk put the finishing touches on the game for Yorkton with a last minute interception.
QB Nick Payne was pleased with his team's effort upon reflection.
"We played pretty good," he details.
Coach Farrell agrees, "We're developing into a complete team."
The play of Payne was a bright spot for Farrell, especially considering the fact that the youngster had not stepped in on a full-time basis until this point.
"He did a heck of a job today," Farrell observes.
Football intelligence is especially critical when i comes to quarterbacking a team. Farrell says that he can see that intuition in his young leader, referring specifically to an audible that Payne was able to diagnose and call at the line of scrimmage.
"Plays like that, you need to be a pretty intelligent football player to make that kind of a read. He did that in real time, rolling out. So he's developed into a really, really good quarterback."
With only two games left in the season (both on the road), Farrell hopes that his team's momentum will carry them forward.
With visible improvement being shown from the Gridders each week, both players and coaches are optimistic about a rematch with the league's best squad, the Wolverines.
After victimizing the Gridders, 30-0, in their last meeting, Farrell eagerly awaits a potential playoff rematch.
"To be honest, I can't wait to play them again."
Payne agrees and offers a prediction.
"We'll win," the young signal-caller smiles.
Only time will tell, obviously, but these Gridders look to be ready for the challenge.
