September 1, 2014
ORDER HERE:
skylineathletics.com/omg
OR
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Orders must be placed online by September 15th. $10 from the purchase of each item will go to support the Midget Football League of Manitoba.
August 27, 2014
By Dustin Pernitsky
The St. Vital Mustangs visited Charlie Krupp Stadium to take on the North Winnipeg Nomads on Friday, August 23rd. The Nomads came out on top 13-9 to move to 2-0 on the season, dropping the Mustangs to 0-2.
The Mustangs and Nomads have developed quite the rivalry in the MFLM, and while this edition of the match-up might not have been the prettiest display of offense, it was certainly another hard-fought battle between two competitive teams. Nomads head coach Max Hyde, now in his 5th season in charge of North Winnipeg's Midget program, embraces the rivalry between these two perennial powerhouses.
“It’s good for the league, it’s good for the clubs,” coach Hyde said about the rivalry after the game. “It’s a tradition… Last year we lost to them in the championship.”
Yes, the game was a rematch of last year’s championship final, when the Mustangs took home the PlayAll Awards Midget Football Championship title with a 39-12 victory. On Friday, the Nomads took care of some unfinished business while defending their home turf.
The scoreboard at halftime would’ve looked more appropriate at a hockey game, with the Mustangs staking out a 2-0 lead on a pair of singles. Rain, wind, and generally sloppy field conditions led to a tough time for both offenses.
“With the field it was today, it could’ve gone either way,” coach Hyde said. “Our best running back, Blake Bernert fumbles a ball… [the Mustangs] throw an interception because [the ball] is wet. It affects the whole game.”
Despite the weather, both teams had more success moving the ball in the second half. The Nomads would use Bernert and their power run game to find the end zone twice in the third quarter. North Winnipeg held a 13-2 lead when Mustangs #2 quarterback Pierce Melo hit receiver William Evans-Murphy on a slant route that went for a 51-yard touchdown. That’s as close as the Mustangs would get.
Evans-Murphy led the game with 101 receiving yards on six catches. Bernert pounded his way for 176 yards on 23 rushing attempts.
Week Three of the MFLM finds North Winnipeg visiting Transcona in a match-up of the two remaining undefeated teams on Friday night at 7:00pm. St. Vital hosts the Falcons on Saturday night, while the Interlake Thunder travels to St. James in the Southwest Wolves' home opener.
Check out all Week 2 Highlights on YouTube.
August 18, 2014
By Dustin Pernitsky
The 2014 Midget Football League of Manitoba season kicked off Friday night in Transcona with the Nationals defeating the defending-champion St. Vital Mustangs 35-14 at Archambault Field.
Nationals’ running back Daniel Norris would open the scoring just five minutes in, running through contact and reaching the end zone from 11 yards out. Norris led a group of three Nationals running backs who ran the ball very effectively on the night.
“It’s kind of (running back) by committee… Norris is a third-year guy, same with Tyler Forest, so with Brandon Urciuoli coming up, hopefully he can learn from those two,” said head coach Steve Hoel.
However, this game’s outcome was not obvious in the early going. An interception by Derian Weimer would set up a short Dylan Condie score, giving the Mustangs a 7-6 lead before the end of the first quarter.
The game featured two of the MFLM’s most electric players, Mustangs’ receiver Kai Madsen and Nationals’ receiver Jacob Robertson. Both 3rd-year veterans found the end zone before the half was out.
Madsen would strike first on a 23-yard touchdown reception from rookie Joshua Jamieson, out-jumping two taller defensive backs, giving his club a promising 14-6 lead.
Nationals quarterback Adam Gorzen would answer by leading his team on a long drive that included three straight completions to Philip Gut, bringing Transcona to St. Vital’s 20-yard line. Two plays later, facing 3rd down on the Mustangs 16-yard line, Nationals head coach Steve Hoel decided to keep his offense on the field. Gorzen found Robertson in the back of end zone to narrow the deficit to one.
Robertson no doubt has Hoel’s trust in key situations.
“Jake is a hardcore player, he’ll do anything you ask him to. Any time, any place on the field. I expect Jake to do great things this year… there’s a reason he’s a captain.”
The Nationals would take the lead for good early in the second half. Following an Austin Uskiw fumble recovery, Gorzen connected with Robertson on another go route, this time from 24 yards out to go up 21-14 less than three minutes into the third quarter.
Brandon Urciuoli would spearhead the next score with a 45-yard run that set up his first Midget touchdown. Gorzen added a short major of his own in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach.
Mustangs head coach Craig Bachynski acknowledged the physicality of the evening’s battle, but retained a positive outlook.
“We experienced many, many injuries,” Bachynski said after the game. “We were probably playing the best team in the league, the biggest team for sure… I think (the Mustangs) held their own. One game does not make a season for us.”
The coach went on to add that he was looking forward to getting some of these injured players back in the lineup next week.
--- Photos by Chris Lepischak
