The first quarter of the Humboldt Collegiate Institute (HCI) Mohawks' season-opener versus the Tisdale Tornadoes was not kind to the hosts.
The HCI Mohawks nine-man football team travelled to Tisdale for their first game of the season on September 2.
HCI's Daegan-Engele-led offence was crisp, staking the visitors to a big lead. They not only scored on their first three possessions but the first two touchdowns took one play and their third involved less than three plays.
Scoring touchdowns in the opening quarter were made by Josh Giddings, Treyton Luker and Jordan Grywacheski on long scampers, while Engele plunged in from three yards out.
On the other side of the ball, the defence played solidly. Not only did they pitch a shutout until the four-second mark of the fourth quarter, they repeatedly punished Tisdale's ball-carriers.
HCI's Tyrell Hering, Aaron Kosokosky, Aaron Turchyn and Mathew Doepker chipped in with tackles for loss while Aaron Kosokosky and Dylan Meyer recorded quarterback sacks.
HCI built up a 35-0 lead by the end of the first frame.
Mohawks head coach Shaun Gardiner had already begun substituting younger players by the midway point of the quarter, giving the starters less work than desired.
"We were able to get some things on film but we were hoping to get some more reps in for some of our players we had penciled into new spots," said Gardiner. "Our execution was not very good. We survived on superior fundamentals."
The score inflated to 42-0 by the half.
"We made some adjustments at halftime to get some kids some touches. The downside was that our execution dropped off even more," added Gardiner.
In fact, one of the biggest hits of the game occurred when Mohawk Justin Lefebvre collided with an errant teammate. Assistant coach Tom Schwinghamer declared, "There were bodies lying all over the field!"
There was also a fumbled exchange between quarterback and center and Engele turned a botched hand-off into a 25-yard gain. The P.A.T. unit also missed an extra point.
The second half was punctuated by only two scores, one by the Mohawks and one by the Tornadoes on the last play of the game.
Defensive co-ordinator Brian Hinz was pleased with the play of some of the younger players. "Brodie Brown had some decent tackles and Josh Tameling had a sweet smack on (the Tornado) quarterback.
Offensive backs coach Dave Rowe noted the play of Colton Slipetz, who made a nifty inside out move to rip off a 20-yard gain, and Grade 10 reserve running back Jonathan Zimroz whose "feet and will would not quit."
Zimroz was rewarded with the Mohawks' sixth and seventh touchdowns and had another called back by a holding penalty.
Friday's final score was 49-6.
Humboldt will open their home schedule against Warman on September 9 at 4 p.m.
