Eagles Soar Through Tornadoes

By Robert Thomas

Despite trailing on the score clock for a good portion of the game the Peacock Tornadoes were a handful for the visiting Weyburn Eagles who were only able to seal the final game result in the the last few minutes of play.

Facing a tough Estevan team Peacock found themselves defeated 23 - 6 in South 5A 12-Man Football League regular season action Saturday afternoon at Guthridge Field.

The Tornadoes got off to a slow start but as the game progressed the team became better and managed to almost pull off two goal line stops in a row.

Peacock Tornadoes Dax Gibney takes the legs out from underneath Weyburn Eagles Carter Bell - MJ Independent photo

Despite the loss Peacock Tornadoes head coach Bert Redstone said the Tornadoes showed tenacity and held in there throughout most of the game.

“A credit to Weyburn. Obviously a very physical team and they got some guys who can bring it especially on the O (offensive) and D (defensive) line. And their running backs especially number 66 (Owen Istace) that kid can bring a load,” Redstone said.

He said the team should have been prepared for hard pushing running backs given they had faced Central and Yorkton already this season.

Peacock Tornadoes Josh Johnson (left) takes off after getting a hand off from quarterback Keaton Doerksen - MJ Independent photo

“We should have been ready for that,” he said, adding “you know, mental mistakes, positioning and we are playing with a short bench right now. We have a lot of young guys that aren’t quite ready to go on the field. We have a lot of old guys playing two way and special teams. And so you can see it later in the game mental mistakes are happening.”

Despite the loss he said the Tornadoes are close to winning games.

“I don’t think they realize how close we are. We are fairly competitive with other teams. But when you have a couple of bad plays…you let your mind linger on these plays and you start having bad body language …I think a mental reset (will help).”

Eagles Carter Bell pushes off of Tornadoes Kayde Kell in an attempt to evade being tackled - MJ Independent photo

Peacock is like the other two local high schools - Vanier and Central - by having a younger team with a roster not dominated by seniors.

“We are starting a bunch of Grade Nines. Some of those guys are playing two ways. We are playing a ton of Grade Tens,” he said, adding ”so how do you win tight games. You can’t make mistakes that is the first thing.

Peacock Tornadoes Malcolm Hunter attempts to out run Weyburn Eagles Owen Istace after making a successful catch. Hunter gained 39 yards on the play - MJ Independent photo

Asked about the defense - who managed to stop the Eagles on a goal line push and almost did it the second time - he said that the defense played well.

“Yeah great D. They had a chance to make some plays out there to. A screen (pass) knocked down “

Redstone said he would like to see the team play more in the center field area when on defense though instead of in their end of the field.

The game was one that was winnable.

The ball is almost intercepted by a Weyburn Eagle defender. The pass was in the end incomplete - MJ Independent photo

The Statistics

The Tornadoes found themselves with 189 yards of total offense - 110 yards rushing and 79 yard in the air.

This compared to the 306 yards of total offense from the Eagles - 195 yards rushing and 111 in passing.

The Tornadoes offense was led by Josh Johnson who managed to wrack up 72 yards in 16 carries.

Johnsom had a tough go at it as the Weyburn defense seemed to key in on him and he often found himself heavily covered whenever he would carry the ball.

Peacock’s Malcolm Hunter is about to be tackled - MJ Independent photo

Weyburn split their rushing duties between Istace - who rushed for 62 yards on 7 carries - and Carter Bell - who rushed for 67 yards on 10 carries.

In the air Malcolm Hunter of the Tornadoes caught one pass for a 39 yard gain.

For Weyburn Sanderson caught three passes and wracked up 69 yards in offense.

Josh Johnson would score all of Peacock’s six points and the conversion attempt was not successful.