The U14 Estevan Oilers celebrated a remarkable victory this weekend, defeating the previously undefeated Moose Jaw Raiders.
With this win, the Oilers now share first place in the league, both teams holding a record of three wins and one loss.
“I think this one gives us a whole lot of confidence that we’re going to be able to go into Weyburn and play a really good game,” said head coach Christian Pfeifer. “The last time we played Weyburn was a very, very tight game. It was well played by both sides, and we’re feeling confident that we can come into Weyburn and hopefully come away with a different final score this time.”
Pfeifer highlighted the team’s resilience as their greatest strength. “They don’t quit; you never see anybody hang their heads, even when things get down. You always see them bounce back from bad things. It’s all about playing for each other, and I think that’s what makes us such a powerful team.”
Despite facing a series of player injuries in their last game, the Oilers refused to be deterred. “I think it comes down to these kids play hard for each other. When something happens and you get an injury down on the field, it only motivates them to play that much better because they are saying, ‘Hey, my brother, my sister is down on that field, and I want to go out there and I want to play hard for them.’”
Pfeifer described the match as one of the best he has seen. “I think that was one of the best games I've ever seen. These kids play. That was one of the best games that I might have ever seen come through Estevan Minor Football here in the entire time that I've been doing it.”
When asked about the highlights of the game, he said it was challenging to pick just one. “I would say a standout would have to be our defence. We let up a score late in that game, but then they turned around and stopped the two-point conversion, which would have tied the game. Resiliency is just such a big thing on this team. They don't hang their heads when something goes wrong; they turn around and get a short memory and come out stronger and ready to play just the same.”
Pfeifer also served as a referee for three games that his team wasn’t playing and shared his observations of the overall performance on the field. “From what I can see from the other teams around this league, it looks like football in Estevan is alive, well, and thriving. Some of the outcomes might not have been what we had hoped for, but you see a lot of good things even in those losses: teams moving the ball well, defences making big plays, and certain players stepping up.”
The U12 Chargers also won their match on Saturday, while the Elecs and Viragos faced losses. “There were still really good things coming from all the teams around this town,” Pfeifer added.