Week three of Regina Minor Football League action returned to Yorkton over the weekend. Getting back into the win column on Saturday afternoon put the Yorkton Pee Wee Gridders into a three-way tie for second place in the Reed Division.
Things did not get off to the greatest start Saturday morning in front of a small crowd at Kinsmen Century Field against the Regina Rams.
Regina jumped out to an early 8-6 lead and Yorkton appeared to have the go-ahead score when Blaise Zrudlo bolted 50 yards for a touchdown on an intercepted pass. The score was called back after a clipping call on the Regina 20-yard line bringing the ball back.
He would eventually get that back by scoring late in the game, along with Zacharia Kais, putting Yorkton up 18-8. The Gridders went for two-point converts on all touchdowns unfortunately did not convert any of them.Yorkton was also charges with three offside calls in a row late in the third quarter and Jason Farrell, head coach said everything went fairly well with the exception of a bunch of examples of bad/no discipline.
"We focus on intensity, we focus on discipline," says Farrell, adding afterwards that while the intensity of the players was clearly evident, the discipline wasn't so much. "Blaise Zrudlo got the interception (then they got the penalty)."
Following week two's loss in Regina against a powerful Wolverine quarterback who picked apart Yorkton's defence with his arm strength alone, Farrell said it was his main goal to not have to worry about a 13-year-old quarterback who can throw the ball 30 or 40 yards and be dead-on accurate.
"That was one of our focusses this week was pass defence."
Yorkton got together for four practices heading into the Rams game Saturday and Farrell seemed happy with the outcome. He said the penalties taken weren't as much of a concern as long as the intensity level is where it should be. The PeeWee's next action comes this weekend when they tangle with the Warriors at 10 a.m., on Saturday.
