A slow, gritty junior varsity football game turned into a blank column for 10 minutes at Doug Steeves Field on Friday.
Despite being scoreless for over 30 minutes, Vincent Massey's Vikings kept pressing and it eventually paid off with three late touchdowns in a 20-14 win over the Park Pirates.
The Vikings improved to 4-1 on the JV season in the Winnipeg High School Football League, handing the league-leading Pirates (4-1) their first loss. “It was amazing playing against one of the best teams in Canada and we were stuck with them throughout the first half,” receiver Asher Glover said.
Lota Okaekwu rushed 15 times for 170 yards and a touchdown as the Vincent Massey Vikings defeated Grant Park 20-14 in the nine-man Winnipeg JV Football League at Doug Steeves Field on Tuesday. (Thomas Friesen/Brandon Sun)
For the entire first half and most of the third quarter, the teams refused to give each other a thing. The craziest play of the first 24 minutes was when Dylan Shermann hit the ball on the leg side but recovered it and ran for the first down.
The pitch began to tilt in Massey's favor in the second half and eventually Aiden Cleasby and Glover had said enough. The left-handed quarterback threw a perfect 25-yard touchdown pass to Glover, who picked it up in double coverage, sparking a 15-minute frenzy with 3:30 left in the third. “I saw the separation, a great ball in the air thrown by my defender Aiden and I caught the ball straight into the grass. I didn’t even know I got a touchdown,” Glover said.
“It was amazing, the first touchdown of the game comes back down the sideline.”
But the Pirates blocked the extra point and responded quickly when Orlando Brown returned the ensuing kickoff into Massey territory, laying in Major Jayden Botelho with 35 seconds in the frame.
Vikings Kick Returner Lexan White made it better by taking the Grant Park kickoff straight to six.
“One of my best friends, Dennis (Dyakov), told me to bring it to the house,” White said. “I said, 'Okay, I have to.' I got the ball, saw the gap and I would say I'm faster than everyone else on this field, so I took it to the house.
“I got a big boost of confidence when I saw that gap.”
The special teams chaos wasn't over yet, as Viking Lance Burton forced the next kickoff and gave his offense the ball heading into the fourth quarter.
Asher Glover was annoying on a touchdown pass in the third quarter. (Thomas Friesen/Brandon Sun)
After a couple of turns, perhaps the most patient player on the field found the space he had been looking for all day.
Vikings running back Lota Okaekwu was bottled up for most of the game but suddenly rose up the middle and bounced outside for a 54-yard score to lead 20-7.
“I was really nervous at the beginning because they're a really tough team and their defense is really good, but yeah, I think I trust my team,” said Okaekwu, who finished with 15 carries for 170 yards. “I just stopped trying to get to the outside and more just hit them head-on.
“(My offensive linemen) blocked super well and pushed guys inside so I could get to the outside.”
The Pirates responded with a touchdown to cut the lead to six, but the Vikings managed to bleed out the remaining 5:41 of the clock on two drives.
Few teams have asked more from Massey's defense this year, but the boys have stepped up.
“It's definitely stressful, but you just have to keep your sanity and play your part,” White said. “Anyway, you have to fix it in the next game, no matter what.”
Massey closes the regular season at home next Tuesday against the River East Kodiaks.
Oakley Peters Massey, left, and Lance Burton team up to tackle Grant Parks Orlando Brown. (Thomas Friesen/Brandon Sun)
Then it's playoff time as the Vikings try to defend their nine-man provincial crown.
“Going into the playoffs, we're going to face bigger, better teams,” Glover said. “So we'll have to put in the roller and play better.”
The Crocus Plainsmen (2-2) host the Sturgeon Heights Huskies today at 4 p.m.
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