Bulldogs Bite The Lions Tail
Story and Photos by Robert Thomas
Despite four first halftime touchdown runs by the Lions speedster Bellamy Usher, where he almost literally left the nearest defenders covered in grass and his vapour trail, the Moose Jaw U12 Lions fell 60 - 42 to the Moose Jaw U12 Bulldogs in Kinsmen Moose Jaw Minor Football League action on Saturday afternoon.
The win moved this year’s new U12 Bulldogs to a 2 - 0 record while the loss gave the Lions a 2 - 1 record.
“What a shootout. You know Saturday Night Lights and 100 points on the scoreboard. The kids were excited. The coaches were excited. It was a good time,” Bulldogs head coach Cory Harkness told MJ Independent in the post game interview.
Asked about the shootout in the first half Harkness agreed it was a scoring bonanza. With each side alternating scoring near knockout blows.
“It was back and forth (in the first half). Both sides were scoring at will and the defence had to adjust. They did in the second half and the kids just came to play,” he said.
The Lions led 36 - 32 over the Bulldogs at the half.
Lions offensive player Bekkam Usher fends off Bulldogs defenders Ryder Lanoie (center) and Easton Gray (left) in an attempt to get outside - MJ Independent photo
About the Lions Bekkam Usher coach Harkness said the Bulldogs noticed the Lions speedster on the field.
“What did he run for 500 or 600 yards in the game? Yeah he can fly. Our guys had to work on angles and we tried to contain him the best we could.”
Minor Football does not keep stats but Usher managed to get outside scoring numerous rushing touchdowns over 50 yards. His longest touchdown run was 75 yards.
Asked about both team’s reliance on running versus a passing offence Harkness said it is the nature of the U12 game. Players are just learning to pass effectively as well as kicking the ball.
“It’s a running game. We did do some passing there. We’ve got Dylan Hawman as quarterback who does a good job. But it’s a running game and if you can get outside and get to the sidelines you can just take off.”
The Lions Bekkam Usher (right) breaks past the Bulldogs Easton Gray on the way to the end zone.
Usher used his speed to score six rushing touchdowns for the Lions - MJ Independent photo
Certain rules of U12 are different.
U12 football scores a running or passing conversion after a touchdown one point while kicking a conversion is worth two points.
Football rules usually have kicking a conversion following scoring a touchdown as worth a single point and a running or passing conversion is worth two points.
Asked if the game was fun to be at or one he needed his blood pressure medication Harkness said “every game is fun for me. I love coaching the kids.”
The game between the Lions and the Bulldogs was a much anticipated matchup.
The Bulldogs Lincoln Harkness attempts to tackle the Lions Daniel Choe - mj independent photo
The increased numbers of U12 players in Moose Jaw allowed the creation of a third U12 team this season.
The new U12 team, the Bulldogs, joined the other two Moose Jaw U12 teams the Lions and the Spartans this season.
“We’re playing the Moose Jaw Lions which is a fantastic team. It’s fantastically coached. We knew it was going to be a battle and it was. Right down until the end.”
For Lions head coach Kellyn Bollinger the back and forth high scoring affair made for an exciting game for the 250 plus fans in the stands.
“I thought it was a real exciting game…it was back and forth. I think we put up a lot of points on them and they put up a lot of points on us. It kept the fans entertained and yeah I thought it was a good showing,” Bollinger said.
The Bulldogs Jax Throssell has just one defender to beat on the way to the end zone - MJ independent photo
About the play of Bekkam Usher he said the Lions needed the strong play given the player situation.
“We asked a lot of him today. We were down a couple of people in his position so he was asked to carry the load for us today. I think he did a hell of a job,” he said.
Bollinger said U12 football had differences than higher tiers of football simply because of player limitations.
“You have to rely on the run game a little more than you can at the older ages. I find that some of the sweeps and outside plays come a little easier at this age as they come at the older ages,” he said, adding “but we have got to be a balanced offence regardless.”
“We have got to be able to throw the ball and run the ball even at this age.”
A major turning point in the game came when the Bulldogs took two back to back penalties deep in their own end late in the game.
The Bulldogs managed a big running play for a first down just as turning the ball over on three downs threatened.
The Lions surround a Bulldogs ball carrier along the sideline - MJ Independent photo
“I thought it was going to come down within the wire there. We got them down to four points late there but then Nelson (Karal), you have to give him credit there, number 20 on the other team he took it to us all day and he continued down the stretch and put it all away,” Bollinger said.
Despite the disappointing loss Bollinger said that was now behind the Lions.
It was something the team wasn’t going to dwell on but rather they were going to focus on the future and make it into the playoffs, he said.
Lions defender Kayden Howes (left) attempts to run down the Bulldogs Nelson Karal - mj independent photo
It’s the same message he told the Lions in their post game team huddle.
“I told the kids our goal is the championship and this score is not going to prevent us from doing that,” Bollinger said.
The Fun Of Coaching U12 Football
For Bulldogs head coach Harkness coaching U12 football is different than coaching older players.
“This is the first time for them playing football and they’ve never stepped on a field before. Football is a different sport. It’s a different animal. It’s a lot more physical some are ready for but I love it,” he said.
The Bulldogs Easton Gray (left) tackles the Lions Daniel Choe along the sidelines - MJ Independent photo
Harkness is ecstatic about having the increase in players in U12.
“The numbers are up and that shows people are interested and people are having fun,” he said.
It’s something local Minor Football in Moose Jaw is experiencing. The numbers of children playing has doubled to approximately 250 players over the last few years.
He said it’s not just Moose Jaw, with their strong programs benefitting, but other centres in the league have good players and programs.
Lions quarterback Blake Oram (center) gets ready for the ball snap - MJ Independent photo
Asked which he preferred and had the most fun at coaching U12 or high school football Harkness declined to say.
“They’re different. It’s like coaching two different sports and I coach a lot of sports.”
Harkness is involved coaching football in the Central Cyclones program.
“It’s all fun. You’ve got to have fun. You have got to let the kids have fun. But you also want to have them develop to become better football players so that’s a challenge.”
Five Lions surround the Bulldogs Jax Throssell - MJ independent photo
The U12 program was about building the basics and giving good technique to the players while also having fun, he said.
Harkness said coaches in the U12 program can put pressure on the players but “they put pressure on themselves actually. Sometimes you have to be a leader as a coach and take that pressure off of them.”
At the Bulldogs bench - MJ Independent photo
For Lions head coach Bollinger he said he enjoys coaching a U12 team.
“I find it really fun. The kids are great they soak up everything like sponges out here. They all have a really good attitude and they’re having fun so I’m having fun,” he said.
Asked if he needed his heart medication coaching in U12 given the potential great swings in the game and score Bollinger said he did.
“I still need my heart medication. I get a little bit worked up at times. I’m as competitive as ever even if it’s at this age. I’m always wanting to win so I’m going to get stressed out even if it is at this age,” Bollinger said, adding “even if it’s fun at the end of the day.”
The Bulldogs Gavin Mackow is about to cross the goal line - mj independent photo
The U12 Bulldogs move to a 2 - 0 record.
The U12 Lions now have a 2 - 1 record.
The U12 Spartans now have a 3 - 0 record.
The U12 Bulldogs next game is September 22nd in Assiniboia versus the Rockets with a 5:30 pm kickoff.
The U12 Lions is September 23rd as the Swift Current Steelers are in town. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 pm at Elks Memorial Field 1600 Caribou Street West.
