Vikings Drop Tough Defensive Battle To Oilers
Friday evening’s lone Moose Jaw game in Kinsmen Minor Football League action was a defensive rollercoaster with either defense coming up big one play right after another.
But at the end of an emotional rollercoaster the U14 Moose Jaw Vikings lost a heartbreaker 16 - 12 to the visiting Estevan Oilers.
A game of turnovers, offensive misplays and individual efforts by both the Vikings and the Oilers.
Moose Jaw Vikings quarterback Keltyn Chappel looks downfield for a receiver while under pressure from Estevan Oilers Ben Guertin - MJ Independent photo by Robert Thomas
The score at the end of the First Quarter was Vikings 6 and Oilers 0. With the Vikings failing to make a two point conversion.
The Second Quarter saw a defensive battle break out as neither sides offense could seem to take advantage of their opportunities.
The score at Halftime was Vikings 6 and Oilers 16.
The Third Quarter would see the Vikings stage a bit of a comeback using the run with the score at the end of the quarter Vikings 12 and Oilers 16. The Vikings once again were stopped converting the touchdown.
The Fourth Quarter saw no scoring but was a rollercoaster of possession as both defences would respond to each other and force turnovers. A fumble recovery by the Vikings defence would be followed up in the next play with an Oilers interception.
The Oilers would end a last minute desperate Vikings drive by intercepting a pass with 9.5 seconds left on the clock.
Moose Jaw Vikings quarterback Keltyn Chappel calls his own number and gets around Estevan Oilers defender Ben Guertin - MJ Independent photo by Robert Thomas
Moose Jaw Vikings head coach Allan Hender was disappointed with the final result but the game was as tough as he had expected.
“It was a bloodbath tonight. We expected it to be a really hard fought game. It always is against Estevan. It doesn’t matter if it’s here or it’s in Estevan. The boys fought hard and the girls fought hard and we had the short stick,” Hender said.
He went on to say “we are going to have to go through them to get to the end.”
Estevan Oilers Liam Durr is all wrapped up and tackled by Moose Jaw Vikings Draven Smith. Smith was called “an absolute monster” by the Estevan bench - MJ Independent photo by Robert Thomas
Hender said the number of turnovers and rapid shifts in momentum was something he had expected.
“It basically how we thought it was going to be. It is always kind of a see saw battle.”
Despite the close loss he is still happy with the Vikings play.
“I’m really proud of the kids tonight and what they showed and it’s back to work on Monday,” he said.
The Vikings have been using two quarterbacks - Keltyn Chappel and Keaton Bauck - throughout their two games so far this year.
“It’s just to keep things off balance and everything. (It) gives other teams something else to look at but again we have lots of work to do,” Hender said.
Chappel served as quarterback more often than not in running plays while Bauck came out on more passing plays called in from the bench.
Last season the Vikings relied upon the arm and run of Hudson Belsher who graduated this season and is expected to be joining the Central Cyclones.
Moose Vikings Lachlan Hender is brought down by a tumbling Estevan Oilers Waylon Mantei - MJ Independent photo by Robert Thomas
“It’s only the second game of the year. We’ve got a long way to go yet.”
Estevan Oilers head coach Christian Pfeifer was ecstatic after the teams second win in as many weeks.
“Oh man. No words. My heart is racing just about as fast as it possibly could and I’m so proud of these kids. They fought to the last whistle. We started rough but we found our stride. We found our stride and pulled out about as narrow of win as possible,” Pfeifer said.
Asked about the defensive nature of the game he said the Vikings played a strong defensive game.
“I was terrified every time we had to go up against that defence. Their number 52 (Draven Smith) that guy is just an absolute monster. It’s hard to game plan against a defence that plays that well,” Pfeifer said.
“I think we just ended up on the right side of the ball today.”
On the Moose Jaw Vikings bench - MJ Independent photo by Robert Thomas
Asked about the back and forth possessions in the second and fourth quarters caused by both teams’ defences if it wasn’t close to heart attack season on the bench Pfeiffer said it went further than that.
“Absolutely. Stressful doesn’t even begin to cover it.”
A trio of Moose Jaw defenders manage to break up an Estevan Oilers goalie passing play - MJ Independent photo by Robert Thomas
Asked about the importance of back to back wins - given Estevan is not a football powerhouse in both minor and high school football leagues - Pfeiffer said it’s something major for the program and the community.
“It’s huge. We’ve had histories of not having a whole lot of success when it comes to minor sports down here but you know what this is fantastic. I’m so happy for this team. These kids played their hearts out yet again,” he said.
“I can’t stress how proud I am. I can’t stress out how happy I am for these kids.”
Moose Jaw Vikings manages to make a catch that was just out of the reach of Estevan Oilers Kieran Kyle - MJ Independent photo by Robert Thomas
“It’s very nice (to win). I felt at times I was going to pass out from a heart attack today but you know what we squeaked out the win and again I can’t say it enough I couldn’t be more proud of these kids.”
Moose Jaw Vikings Teegan Kivol is tackled from behind - MJ Independent photo by Robert Thomas
The Estevan Oilers move to 2 - 0.
The Moose Jaw Vikings move to 1 - 1.
Next action for the Vikings is a matchup against the Moose Jaw Raiders Friday September 13th at 8 pm
The Oilers next game is next Friday September 13th at 7:30 pm versus the Weyburn Falcons
