Vikings Heading Into Football Playoffs
By Robert Thomas
WILCOX, Saskatchewan - On a football field that never seemed to end the Vanier Vikings managed to easily defeat the Notre Dame Hounds 58 - 21 in Wilcox.
For the Vikings it is the third win of their inaugural regular season of 9-aside football putting the team into the playoffs with a 3 - 2 record.
The Hounds finished the season with a 1 - 4 record.
A Hounds victory would have seen them tied with identical 2 - 3 records in Conference 2.
Vanier Vikings Gabe Yasinski is tossed out of bounds by a Notre Dame Hounds defender - MJ Independent photo
The First Quarter saw the Hounds open the scoring 7 - 0 on a touchdown by easily their game MVP Landen Siroski-Brown.
However the Vikings would respond with a pair of Gabe Yasinski touchdowns making the score at the end of the quarter Vikings 14 - Notre Dame 7.
Vanier Vikings Janzen Lumey attempting to tackle Notre Dame Hounds ball carrier Pherson Loehndors - MJ Independent photo
The Second Quarter saw the Vikings explode on the scoreboard with four touchdowns and a safety.
Teagan Bennett would score two Vanier touchdowns in the quarter.
The scoring spree was assisted by Janzen Lumey who scored on a massive rush outrunning the Hounds defence.
The fourth and final Viking touchdown of the half was scored by Gabe Yasinski who ran for the third of his four touchdowns of the game.
Vanier forced the Hounds to take a two point safety.
A Hounds touchdown by running back Pherson Lochndors was as much scoring the home team could muster in the quarter leaving the score at Half Time Vanier 44 and Notre Dame 14.
A Viking is hauled down - MJ Independent photo
The Third Quarter saw Gabe Yasinski score his fourth touchdown just over two minutes into the quarter making the score 51 - 14.
The Hounds would score at 4:04 in the quarter making the score Vanier 51 and Notre Dame 21.
The Vikings would respond 18 seconds later with a Hudson Tallon touchdown.
The score was Vikings 58 and Hounds 21 at the end of the quarter.
The Fourth Quarter saw no scoring.
The Final score was Vanier 58 and Notre Dame 21.
The Vikings fans weren’t hard to spot in Wilcox - MJ Independent photo
Coach’s Comments
“The regular season is behind us and we are just looking forward to the playoffs,” Vikings head coach Ryan Gottselig told MJ Independent in a post game interview.
About the game Gottselig said the Vikings had a decent outing.
Vanier Vikings Tayden Hardwicke makes the first of two key interceptions - MJ Independent photo
“I thought we did well. We gave up a few big plays on defence that was a little tough and special teams gave up big returns. But overall we played well and everybody got into the game and contributed for us,” he said.
With the Vikings having a commanding 51 - 14 lead early in the third quarter Gottselig made the move to give the entire bench extended playing time.
New to football this year defensive back Zoey Chesney almost had the opportunity pay off with an interception but the ball just went between her hands.
Vanier Vikings Zoey Chesney (right) just fails to make an interception as the ball passes between her hands- MJ Independent photo
Despite the local football crowd saying before the game the Vikings should have an easy time with the Hounds Gottselig disagreed.
“You can never be sure how these things turn out as you haven’t seen any of these teams yet. They’ve looked good on film at times and other times a little bit inexperienced as well,” he said, adding “But I was confident if we ran our stuff well on O (offense) we could score on them today.”
Despite the lopsided score the Hounds had some tough weapons in their arsenal. Most notably Pherson Loehndors and Canden Giroski-Brown.
NOTRE DAME HOUNDS BALL CARRIER Pherson Loehndors attacks a horde of vikings defenders - MJ INDEPENDENT photo
Asked about what the playoffs looked like Gottselig said it didn’t matter which team they faced the team just needed to focus on their play first and foremost.
“As I just told the kids just worry about us right now. Just play our game. We have got to be better on our side of the field it doesn’t matter who we play we will put a game plan together. If we execute our stuff we have a good chance of moving forward,” he said.
It should be noted at the time of the interview it was not known who had won in the Lumsden and Shaunavon game.
Vanier Vikings Teagan Bennett (left) is chased down the sideline by Notre Dame Hounds Micah Pimm - MJ Independent photo
Asked if there were still some hiccups in the move from 12-aside to 9-aside play given Notre Dame exploded for a major rushing touchdown, Gottselig said there was to some extent.
“This field seems to be extra big today,..I said this to my coaches I have got to get use to the fact that there are going to be a few bigger plays busted in a nine man game.”
Vanier Vikings Janzen Lumey outruns his opponents on the way to the end zone in the second quarter - MJ Independent photo
“We missed a tackle or two and that’s what happens there is no one out there to help you out,” he said.
About the team’s playoffs chances Gottselig said the Vikings were “excited to be able to play some meaningful playoff football.”
Noticing Gottselig was shivering the question came up if the weather would be a factor he laughed and said “we’ll see it’s not getting any warmer.”
“We have been in playoff games in the past and I think we are in a better position than we have been in the past. The weather won’t effect us.”
VANIER VIKINGS TAYDEN HARDWICKE Jumps to make his second pick of the game - mj independent photo
Post Game Player Chat
It was a happy but chilly Vanier Vikings head coach Ryan Gottselig who gave his post game pep speech to the team.
Gottselig stressed that it did not matter which team they faced in the playoffs - Shaunavon or Lumsden - as the Vikings had the ability to beat either of the teams.
He asked the players to clear their plates of distractions as the coming week would be one of practice and getting ready for the game.
Gottselig stressed the Vikings had the ability and opportunity to advance far into the playoffs.
