Vikings Defeat Lions In Friday Night Lights Exhibition Game
By Robert Thomas
The field might be smaller and the number of players on the field cut by 25 percent but the Vanier Vikings made a big splash in their move to 9 man football from 12 man football on Friday evening.
Playing in front of just over 200 fans - a large crowd for a Vikings exhibition game - Vanier recorded a decisive 40 - 13 win against the visiting Gull Lake Lions.
As this was an exhibition matchup there were no stats kept for the game.
Vanier Vikings Tallon Hudson (left) evades a Gull Lake Lions tackler - MJ Independent photo
For Vanier Vikings head coach Ryan Gottselig getting the first win in 9 man football was a great relief.
“There is a lot of uncertainty and that’s why we wanted to get this exhibition game in. It’s exciting for our kids to be on the field on a level playing ground with schools our size,” Gottselig said.
“We had a good result today.”
A Gull Lake player is about to be tackled - MJ Independent photo
Previous to this season the Vikings played 12 man football where they ran up against juggernaut teams such as Yorkton, Peacock Collegiate and Central Collegiate who have larger student bodies to draw players from.
This season the Vikings moved to Conference 2 9-aside football with teams from Gull Lake, Lumsden, Notre Dame, Maple Creek and Shaunavon.
Vanier Vikings quarterback Grayson Herenyk receives a snap from the shotgun - MJ Independent photo
Asked how it felt to move from the 12-aside game - where the Vikings started strong but then would often lose lopsided games - to 9-aside game Gottselig said it worked better for the Vikings who played strong but lacked depth to compete against larger schools.
“Our depth wasn’t there to play against some of these huge programs we were lined up against in the past,” he said.
The Vikings kicking off their entry to 9 man football league play - MJ Independent photo
“Effort has never been an issue with our kids. They always played hard. They always played physical. I think is being here now is a good situation for us.”
Gottselig said that the strong outing by the Vikings on Friday night was a good omen for the team so long as they continued to play the way they did Friday evening.
On the Vanier Vikings bench - MJ Independent photo
Asked about Gull Lake burning the Vikings twice for touchdowns in long runs and some long strong passing plays Gottselig said Friday night’s opponent was a strong one.
“Gull Lake is a good team. They made some good plays. They have some huge kids,” he said, adding “on our end I thought we played well. We are miles ahead of where we usually are at this point (of the season).”
Vanier Vikings running back Teagan Bennett goes outside to beat a Gull Lake Lions defender - MJ Independent photo
“Our execution was good. We didn’t turn the ball over. We didn’t put it on the ground. Our skills guys stepped up. Teagan (Bennett) ran well and everything was good.”
Vanier had big moments offensively with the third quarter starting out with the Vikings returning the kick off for a touchdown.
The Vikings also took penalties that hurt them defensively.
Asked about the different strategy of 9-aside versus 12-aside football given the smaller field area but fewer players Gottselig said it was a little different and often lead to big plays.
VANIER VIKINGS RUNNING BACK TEAGAN BENNETT Is brought down by two gull lake lions defenders - mj independent photo
“It’s a little different…we just took our regular play book and modified it the best we could. A lot of our schemes are similar but there is a little bit more room out there that is why there is a few more big plays being broken,” he said.
Asked about what it felt like playing out under the lights of Elks Athletic Field on Friday night and not Gutheridge Field on Saturday afternoon Gottselig said it was great.
“We are excited. The kids love it. We seem to get more fans out which is awesome for the guys who put the work in.”
VANIER VIKINGS RUNNING BACK hudson tallon is about to be tackled - mj INDEPENDENT photo
With the move to 9-aside football the Vikings will play all of their home games at Elks Athletic Field this season.
The field is not fenced and therefore charging admission is difficult - the games so far this season will be free to attend.
On Friday evening over 200 people attended the Vikings exhibition matchup against Gull Lake which Gottselig said was great.
A Vanier Viking defender grabs ahold of a full lake lions players leg to try to make a tackle - mj independent photo
“We are playing (our home games) on Friday nights and hopefully we have large crowds to watch some good football,” he said.
“It’s (the attendance) is crazy for an exhibition game. Hopefully we can keep building on that number each week and get people out and have some fun.”
VANIER VIKINGS RUNNING BACK TEAGAN BENNETT Evades a gull lake lions tackler - mj independent photo
See Related Story - Vanier Vikings Rookie Excited
