WEYBURN - The Weyburn Comp Eagles football team travelled to Yorkton on Friday night for their season opener against the Raider Gridders. Friday nights in Yorkton always bring out a loud and boisterous crowd with extra presentations, performances and minor football mini-games at half time, the atmosphere is always great.
“It’s been a few years since the Eagles have been able to knock off the Raiders on their own home turf and they were looking to change that on Friday,” said head coach Jody Kerr.
The Raiders were the first to score on an early drive with a field goal taking a 3-0 lead. Late in the first quarter, Haydin Buehler intercepted a Raider pass and ran it in for a touchdown to give the Eagles the lead.
With both teams well-matched it was tough for either team to get a rhythm in the first half. The only other scoring was a two-point safety given up by Yorkton, giving the Eagles a 9-3 lead at half time.
In the third quarter, QB Nolan Uhren connected with Haydin Buehler to take the ball down to the Raider six-yard line giving the Eagles a great chance to score. Unfortunately two near misses and a blocked field goal sent them away empty handed.
Two plays later the defense came through again with an interception by Max Vennard, giving the offense great field position again. Two plays later, Uhren connected again with Buehler for the second touchdown of the game, giving the Eagles a 16-3 lead.
The fourth quarter saw the Eagles settle in and control the game on both sides. The offense could only manage a field goal attempt, which was missed, but a single point was scored. The defense did not budge the rest of the game.
Yorkton was kept off the board and the defense scored another pick-six courtesy of Max Vennard to make the final score 24-3.
“The Eagles defense sent a statement this night with six interceptions, two of those for touchdowns. They only allowed the one scoring drive (field goal) and never allowed the Yorkton offence inside our own 20-yard line all game,” said coach Kerr.
The Eagles will now face the Balgonie Griffins on Thursday night, Sept. 19, at 7 p.m. at Liebel field in Regina for their second game of the season. The Eagles first home game will be on Tuesday, Sept. 24 at 4 p.m., when the Moose Jaw Peacock Tornadoes come to town.
Meantime, on Wednesday, the Eagles junior varsity team hosted Moose Jaw Peacock and Moose Jaw Central in the first junior games of the year. The format was a controlled scrimmage with no special teams.
Each team had 10 offensive plays and then switched possessions with the other team. It was a great opportunity for all three of these teams to get some game speed reps against non team-mates.
With coaches on the field where needed, it was an excellent opportunity for these young kids to learn in the full-speed game situations. In the end MJ Central was the top team of the three. The next game day for the JV squad will be Oct. 1 in Moose Jaw.
