The Estevan atom Miners fell 39-6 to the Moosomin Little Generals at Woodlawn Field last Saturday under extraordinary circumstances.
The Miners, which is a learn-to-play program consisting of six to eight year olds, competed in two 30-minute halves along with a tacked-on 10-minute frame against the older Little Generals that employ eight to 10 year olds. The 70-minute nine-man contest, a first for an Estevan football team at Woodlawn Field, was held under a cold and driving rain, but those conditions didn’t seem to bother any of the players on the field.
Kevin Mortenson, president of Penta Completions Estevan Minor Football, said the game was fun and fair played by both sides with Ty McDermott scoring the Miners touchdown and T.J. Schenn and Xavier Mowbray combining for the Little Generals’ scores. He said the match was the second half of a home-and-home series between the two clubs with the Miners losing the first game 20-6 at Moosomin Sept. 16.
Mortenson said the Miners have been practising twice a week since their season began late last month with a focus on developing tackling fundamentals early on before moving to positioning work. That time in practice showed itself on the field against the Little Generals with the players making a number of tackles, putting up some solid blocking and even recording an interception courtesy of Carter Morrice.
“They’ve been good spirited,” said Morrison. “They’re doing a lot of running. They’re getting a lot of exercise. They are motivated and they’re having fun.”
The Miners’ season will come to a close this Saturday at Woodlawn Field when they face their Highway 39 rivals from Weyburn at 9:30 a.m. in the first match of the four-game showcase of minor football in Estevan. The Estevan Lions Club bantam Oilers will take on the Weyburn Falcons at 11:30 a.m. following the Miners’ game with the Estevan Comprehensive School Elecs meeting the Swift Current Comprehensive School Colts shortly afterwards and the Estevan Century 21 peewee Chargers capping off the day with a 4:30 p.m. tilt against the Moose Jaw Mustangs.
