Vikings Player Sees 9-Aside Move A Positive Experience

By Robert Thomas

For Grade 12 Vanier student Aydan MacNevin returning to football this season has been a good experience.

MacNevin - who played years ago as part of the Moose Jaw Minor Football League system’s Raiders and Lions - said it felt “amazing” when asked about the Vikings play and prospects this season.

He said the Vikings 40 - 14 victory over the Maple Creek Redmen on Friday evening came from working together.

“Some of us had some speculation we weren’t going to win this but we went in confident but not cocky. And we worked as a team and we did great.”

AYDAN MACNevin IS HAPPY AND CONFIDENT AFTER THE VIKINGS STRONG 40 - 14 VICTORY FRIDAY EVENING VERSUS THE MAPLE CREEK REDMEN - MJ INDEPENDENT PHOTO

MacNevin is part of the wave of optimism starting to surround the Vikings - the players, the coaches and the fans.

It’s something they haven’t felt for years. It’s an optimism the Vikings are on a roll.

The team has managed to post a respectable 2 - 1 record at the halfway point of the regular season.

The memories of drubbings of the past few seasons - including last year - in the 12-aside football are slowly disappearing. They’re replaced with learning to play a new game well.

MacNevin said the move to 9-aside football has meant a lot more running.

“In 12 man there are more players on the field. In 9 man there are less (players) so there is way more running.”

Other adaptations are the composition of the defensive line which is slightly smaller at times compared to 12-aside football. It’s a better fit to 9-aside’ more running play.

“When I played for the minor league we had a big guys on our defensive line,” he said.

The coaching staff have had to make adjustments to the team but at the same time individual players have had to adapt.

THE VIKINGS BENCH WAS ALL SMILES AS THE FINAL SECONDS ON THE CLOCK TICKED away - MJ INDEPENDENT PHOTO

“They’re always throwing the ball. They’re always trying to get in behind us. They are trying to get in front of us and stuff.”

Despite adjustments needed to go from 12-aside to 9-aside football the Vikings are learning, adapting and coming out strong.

“Running is fine it gets us going. You have to keep up with them. You have to go 110 percent,” he said.