Football Manitoba Championship weekend round-up
On Saturday November 1 through Sunday November 2, Football Manitoba hosted their championship weekend event at Investor’s Group Field in Winnipeg. Read the game summaries for the provincial championships below.
Photo credit: Football Manitoba
Fort Garry Lions win Majors Championship
The Lions continue their dominance on their way to a back-to-back championship
By Corey Weir
The Fort Garry Lions won the Manitoba Major Football League title with a 20-12 victory over the St. Vital Mustangs Saturday night at Investors Group Field. Lions running back Jordan Birrell rushed for 183 yards and touchdown to guide Fort Garry to its second-straight title. The Lions defeated the East Side Eagles in the 2013 title game.
Watching these two teams play for the first time, an observer wouldn’t guess they finished the season series with the Fort Garry Lions shutting out the St. Vital Mustangs 69-0. The first game came on Aug. 23, when the Lions dominated the Mustangs by a score of 41-0. Granted that was only the Mustangs’ second game of the year, but on Sept. 12, the Lions dominated once again winning by a score of 28-0.
At the half Saturday though, it was a totally different story. The Mustangs were able to hold the Lions scoreless, but were unable to post any points of their own, as it was 0-0 going into the third quarter.
“We knew we could do it was just a matter of getting everyone settled down and just do it,” said Fort Garry Lions head coach David Hasselfield. “The defence was cruising along with what they did, offence had to put it in, they did put it in a bit better and it was good, made a couple of adjustments to make it work and the Mustangs made a couple of adjustments that stopped us it really was a great game.”
The first points of the game came early in the third quarter when Mustangs running back Sean Seifer ran in a 1-yard touchdown to give the Mustangs a 6-0 lead.
It wouldn’t take the Lions very long to respond, as Birrell added to his massive day on the ground, running in an 18-yard touchdown. The extra point made it 7-6 for the Lions.
Early in the fourth quarter, Lions quarterback Christof Hasselfield called his own number and ran in a 1-yard touchdown to make it 14-6.
“I felt like we started to hit our stride (in the second half) and things were eventually going to pop open,” the Lions quarterback said. “We’ve been winning most games on our pass game but we knew all along we could fall back on the run and Jordan Birrell killed it today.”
ATOM FINALS – GREENDELL FALCONS VS. ST. VITAL MUSTANGS
St. Vital Mustangs ride unbeaten streak to a championship
By Corey Weir
The St. Vital Mustangs won the Atom championship by a score of 47-16 over the Greendell Falcons Sunday morning at Investors Group Field. The Atom game was part of Football Manitoba’s two-day Championship Weekend event.
Mustangs quarterback Morgan Lawson was the standout on offence, guiding the team to several scoring drives.
The last time the Mustangs won in the Atom division was back in 2011, when interestingly enough Lawson’s brother was at the helm for the Mustangs. The standout player for the Falcons today was linebacker Hugh Montgomery.
The Mustangs were dominant from the opening whistle, leading at the half by a score of 38-8. The Mustangs high-powered offence could do no wrong, scoring in many different ways, most notably from the arm of Lawson.
“This was my first time ever winning,” said quarterback Lawson. “Last year we didn’t do so well, but this year I’m pretty happy about making it this far.”
The second half proved to be much of the same, as the Mustangs were the first team to score after the half, making it 44-8 for the Herd. They added three more points to the board in the win.
“Great game today, they played hard like every game, (it was a) team effort,” said St. Vital Mustangs head coach Andrew Lawson. “We practice three days a week, the boys come out, they listen, great coaching staff, great organization.”
PEEWEE FINAL – ST. VITAL MUSTANGS VS. EAST SIDE EAGLES
By Corey Weir
The St. Vital Mustangs won the Peewee Championship 16-12 over the East Side Eagles Sunday Afternoon at Investors Group Field. The Peewee game was part of Football Manitoba’s two-day Championship Weekend event.
The Eagles struck first, putting six points on the board. However, Mustangs running back and game MVP Tanner Frobisher quickly responded with a touchdown to give the Herd an 8-6 lead.
The Mustangs led 16-6 at half time before Eagles running back Timothy Jessie ran in a touchdown to make it 16-12 in the third quarter. The final drives of the game suggested a possible comeback for the Eagles, but the Mustangs were able to fend them off for the win.
“We did pretty good, they were really good, their defence played a hell of a game,” said Mustangs quarterback Trent Thornton. “I’m surprised we were able to keep them off this long.”
The Eagles defensive standout was Charles Trey Peterson III, who made numerous tackles throughout the afternoon.
These teams met one other time this season back on Sept. 14, when the Mustangs handed the Eagles a 36-6 beating.
“We pushed them all year and they’ve delivered all year,” said Mustangs head coach Paul Weekes. “We do a lot of work in the fourth quarter drills to be ready for the end of the game and I think that showed in the last drive, stay focused and no mistakes.”
BANTAM FINALS – NORTH WINNIPEG NOMADS VS. ST. VITAL MUSTANGS
