Spartans Defeat Rockets In Home Opener
By Robert Thomas
On paper the game might appear a walk away with one side giving up as the U12 Moose Jaw Spartans defeated the U12 Assiniboia Rockets 57 - 6 in the opening game of the Kinsmen Moose Jaw Minor Football League.
Despite the lopsided final score the game was anything but boring as the Rockets never gave up until the final gun ending the game.
“It was good. You never know what to expect the first game,” Spartans head coach Brock Montgomery told MJ Independent in a post game interview.
A Moose Jaw Spartans player takes the ball downfield - MJ Independent photo by Robert Thomas
“We practice and we run our offence against our defence and you don’t really know what you are going to look like against other teams,” Montgomery said.
Two weeks of practice paid off for the Spartans.
“The kids worked hard for the first two weeks of the season getting ready and it paid off for them tonight.”
The lopsided score allowed the Spartans to get more accustomed with the team in a game situation in ways they have not even practiced for.
A Moose Jaw Spartans ball carrier is one step ahead of of an Assiniboia Rockets defender- MJ Independent photo by Robert Thomas
“It actually helps us evaluate (the team) because in the second quarter and third quarter we ran a bunch of kids in positions. They were successful in running the ball and things like that so we’re happy.”
“We got to run some plays with some kids we didn’t expect to do to so that was a good thing,” he said.
About what the Spartans were looking for for the rest of the season Montgomery said the players working hard and giving it their best.
A Rockets player alludes a would-be tackler - MJ Independent photo by Robert Thomas
“We’re looking for the kids to continue to work hard that’s the biggest thing. They get better each game that’s the most rewarding thing about this league,” Montgomery said.
“We have some little guys who have never played before and by the end of the season they can play some pretty good football.”
Asked about the Assiniboia Rockets’ play - being down against an insurmountable lead - the visitors continued to play their hearts out for the full 48 minutes Montgomery said it was expected.
Assiniboia brought their fan following along with their signs - MJ Independent photo by Robert Thomas
“No they never gave up. They never do. They are coached well. They are respectful kids and that’s the biggest thing. Yeah they had some success in the second half and I’m sure they’ll build on it,” Montgomery said.
An example of the Rockets tenacity was in the final minutes a Spartans player broke four tackles and looked on his way to the end zone when four more players showed up to finish the tackle.
Another Spartans touchdown late in the game would have had no effect on the final outcome.
On the sidelines at the Moose Jaw Spartans bench - MJ Independent photo by Robert Thomas
For Assiniboia Rockets head coach Adam Peterson the loss was not how they wanted the game to end but the team remaining disciplined and not giving up was a win for the visitors.
“We have a young group here and they’re learning. A good chunk of them are learning what it takes to play a game and how hard they are going to have give it in practice,” Peterson said.
He said the team is taught never to give up.
“Every practice we preach to them you can’t quit. You have got to keep going and you can’t give up,” he said.
Asked about a late interception and running down what looked like a sure fire Spartans touch Peterson said he was happy with the team.
A Spartan player out sprints the Rockets defense - MJ Independent photo by Robert Thomas
“Yeah it was good. They showed some heart and they didn’t give up,” he said.
Asked about the apparent fan support - due to the pro-Rockets signs - Peterson said it made him feel good.
“We have a bit of a following type of thing. It’s been, I’ve been doing this for a lot of years, and it’s always a lot of fun.”
Peterson said the Rockets liked making the trip to play in Moose Jaw “because it’s a nice field and it’s a good facility.”
Assiniboia head coach Adam Peterson (far right) talks to his players during the game - MJ Independent photo by Robert Thomas
The fan and community support for minor football is well known especially in light of the community cleanup of snow last October of Assiniboia’s football field.
With one final game remaining - a playoff game that was originally heading to be cancelled - a group of 20 people showed up with snow scrapers and a snowblower cleaning the entire field.
A local farm machinery dealer - Young’s Equipment - pitched in financially by buying all game attendees free hot chocolates in what was a cold Sunday afternoon.
“It was a lot of work but it was a lot of fun though. There were some people wondering if we would be able to do it and I said it’s football we’ve got to do it,” he said.
An Assiniboia Rocket player (left) makes a tackle - MJ Independent photo by Robert Thomas
“A bunch of us went out there and we cleaned off the field and so off we went,” he said.
“It was a real fun game last year but it was cold.”
Asked where he thought the Rockets season would go this year Peterson said “I really don’t know. I can’t say. Todays game yeah we definitely to not have it it end the way we wanted by any means but this is a good group of kids and seem to learn a lot,” he said.
A Moose Jaw Spartans player (left) attempts to contain an Assiniboia Rockets ball carrier who had already alluded a defender- MJ Independent photo by Robert Thomas
During their post game talk with the Spartans players head coach Montgomery told all of the players to check and see if they had rides to their next game this coming Friday in Weyburn.
“If you don’t have a ride to Weyburn we’ll make sure we will get you there,” he told the team.
But it was his next statement to the players that made him more popular with the players.
A Rockets player (left) crosses the goal line to score the team’s lone touchdown - MJ Independent photo by Robert Thomas
When Montgomery announced players would have to leave school early next Friday in order to make the game in Weyburn on time all of the players cheered loudly.
Perhaps a strong indicator all of the players are making next Friday’s trip to Weyburn.
The 2024/2025 school year starts this coming Tuesday.
