Gobble, Gobble - Spartans Victory Earns Team A Turkey Day Bye
Whether they eat turkey on Thanksgiving Day is now for the MJ Spartans to decide after they defeated the Weyburn Ravens in the U12 division of the Kinsmen Moose Jaw Minor Football League.
Promoted as the U12 matchio of the weekend the game saw the Spartans quickly grab the momentum and earn a 42 - 6 victory.
Spartans Ellis Hamilton (left) moves in on an opposing ball carrier - MJ Independent photo
The Spartans used their power to seize the initiative in the first quarter going on to score 28 points with no response from the Ravens.
The second quarter was the same with the Spartans holding a 42 - 0 lead over top of the Ravens.
The third quarter saw the Ravens put up six points with no scoring by the Spartans.
The fourth quarter ended with no scoring by either team and a final score of Spartans 42 and the Ravens 6.
MJ Spartans Winston Jameson battles for the better field position - MJ Independent photo
“It was good. It was a good game,” Spartans head coach Brock Montgomery said.
“We weren’t sure what Weyburn would have. We figured they might mix it up with a little bit and they did,” Montgomery said.
The Spartans adapted for what the saw the Ravens bringing into the game..
“They’ve got some big boys on their team, so it was key for our defence to get low in tackling. I think we did a good job with that. Our offence moved the ball well so all and all it wa a good night.”
Players jostle to recover a loose ball - fumble - MJ Independent photo
One of Weyburn’s best weapons is the fact that they have many larger players on their team. Plus, they also have a very large roster which allows them to move players around.
“They can mix it up at you. It was good. It was a good test for the boys,” Montgomery said, adding that there some very big players with the Ravens where they employ good discipline.
Spartans’ quarterback Leo Montgomery attempts to evade a Ravens defender - MJ Independent photo
The Spartans game plan was to run the ball down the middle and once they could be able to do that they could expand further.
The Spartans game plan was successful.
“We did a good job with that and it kind of opened up getting to the outside and some big runs and some scores.”
The lock band score allowed the Spartans to give more playtime to a wider swath of players - something that could help the team in the playoff run.
“We had a chance to spread around the ball a little bit more, which is good… in playoffs, you don’t know what will happen you might not be as many opportunities for everyone.”
MJ Spartans Curtis Hender (left) jumps against the Ravens’ Austin Davies for a pass - MJ Independent photo
The Spartans end up in first place for the U 12 division and have earned themselves by into the first week of the playoffs.
From Montgomery, the buyer isn’t everything as they still have a couple more games to finish the year.
He said it was good that the kids get the weekend off and get to focus on Thanksgiving, but at the same time they’re still games to be won as the playoffs are still waiting to be won.