It was a spectacle unseen in the history of local sports, a standing room only crowd at a local high school football game as the Yorkton High School Regional (YRHS) Raiders hosted the Regina Martin Monarchs in the first ever night football game at Kinsmen Century Field.
In another first since joining the Regina Intercollegiate Football League (RIFL) the final score was a one-side 41-0 for the Senior Raider Gridders.
It seems head coach Roby Sharpe and his coaching staff took a leaf out of the American sports playbook by turning a purely athletic contest and promoting it into a total entertainment package.
It worked as a fired up YRHS team wrecked havoc on the visiting team. They came out ready to play at the opening whistle. Tanner Kardynal picked up the opening kickoff and ran it back for a touchdown. The Raiders followed up with the second six pointer and a convert with 3:43 left in the first quarter to make it 14-0.
With no time left in the opening quarter, Jake Prybylski carried the ball into the Monarch's end zone to for a touchdown. The convert was good to make it 21-0 for the Raider Gridders.
A nice running play at the 5:18 mark of the second quarter, the Raiders ran the ball into Martin's end zone for another six point major. The point after was good to make it 28-0 for Yorkton.
With about a minute and thirteen seconds left in the second quarter, Colby Melnechenko scooped up the Martin third down punt and ran it back 57 yards into the Monarch end zone. The point after was good to make the score 35-0 for the Raiders.
Both teams settled down to a grinding defensive game in the second half. It looked like neither team was going to put points up on the scoreboard in the half.
With 1:59 left in the game, Paul Toth carried the football into the Martin end zone fro the final score of the game to make the final score 41-0 for the Regional Raider Gridders.
YRHS first year quarterback Dalton Fichtner, playing his first night game at home says it was fun. Kardynal's opening kick-off touchdown set the tone for the game, says Fichtner.
Half the time the coaches call the offensive plays, Fichtner points out. "Ultimately it's up to the quarterback to make reads. I'm not going try to claim anything. It just worked out," he suggests.
While the Monarch's defense managed to mess up the odd Raider play, Prybylski and Toth managed to adjust and break containment, Fichtner observes. The Raider Offensive line played very well, he says. "It was unbelievable the surges that they got. If we didn't have an O line like this I would have been sacked almost every play," he declares.
Raider Gridder head coach Roby Sharpe says the goal was to get 1,500 people out to the first night game. He estimates there were easily 1,500 fans and possibly as many as 2,000 people in attendance if one counted all the people along the sidelines on both sides of the field.
The game under the lights, showcasing the Yorkton Minor Football (YMF) youngsters made the event a major success, Sharpe declares. "We really couldn't be happier," he says.
The team was fired up and all contributed to the final score. Fichtner, Toth and Prybylski all had an outstanding game. Scott Liebrecht had a good game. The game helmet was split between Prybylski and Michael Nagy.
Nagy, who is six foot five and moves like a cat and whose nickname is 'Moose', has the potential to play professional football, Sharpe predicts. "He was just all over the place," Sharpe points out. He also singled out Brennan Pelechytyk and Layne Hull for solid performances. "They were all fired up and ready to play tonight," he states.
The Raiders touchdown off the opening kickoff took the wind out of Martin's sails right at the beginning of the game. Martin couldn't get into the game. "They didn't know what hit them," Sharpe insists.
The Raider defense was also solid. Sharpe credits defensive coordinator Ryan Effa with a great defensive mind.
He points out things can also go the other way in football. If Martin had scored first, it might have been a different football game, Sharpe suggests.
While ideally Century Field would have light for night games, Sharpe believes washrooms should take a priority. Former YRHS Gridder head coach Ed Magis, who kicked the cermonial opening kick-off, donated the first $1,000 toward the new bathroom facilities, Sharpe notes.
While the lights may have attracted many people to the game, other factors may have also contributed to the turnout, Sharpe suggests. "It was a gorgeous day. It's Friday night. Everybody's off work at 5 (p.m.)," he lists.
Many folks who drive into Regina for football games may now see that high school football offers and exciting and entertaining product as well, Sharpe says.
The Raiders can't afford to rent lights for every game but they'll try to establish a tradition and do it every year, Sharpe says.
He appreciates the support for Yorkton Minor Football of Terry Ortynski's Royal Ford. The dealership set up a program to donate $20 to YMF for every vehicle who came out to test drive a Ford Friday.
YMF and the high schools keep football affordable for youngsters, Sharpe claims. The fact is, football with the equipment and travel is expensive," he says. For $100 a season youngsters get all the equipment they need, travel to Regina on a Westerhaug bus, get to play under the lights on artificial turf, he points out. Fundraising becomes crucial for the program to continue, Sharpe says. "When you have someone like Royal Ford that steps up with a promotion like that we sure appreciate it," he declares.
He also lists the Yorkton Co-op, Harvest Meats, and Flaman Sales as local supporters of the football program.
The Raiders next play Notre Dame in Regina Friday.
The next home game will see the Raider Gridders host Johnson Collegiate Friday, September 23.
