The U14 Estevan Oilers secured a statement win over the Weyburn Falcons this weekend, avenging their only loss of the season with a commanding 28-1 victory. The Oilers' grit and adaptability were on full display, as the team overcame a short roster to dominate their Highway 39 rivals.
“We ended up winning the game 28 to one, it was very hard-fought game for both sides,” said Christian Pfiefer, head coach of the Oilers. Adding that the team once again showcased their resiliency.
“We came into the game with 21 healthy players, and we had to play a lot of kids out of position, different positions on either side of the ball, that they definitely weren’t used to,” he said.
He added that the whole team stepped up and did what they needed to do to bring home the win.
“Our special teams led up a couple of really big plays, and that's what ended up being the difference this time around. It was a much different outcome, is a lot stronger game from the kids this time around and it ended up being a huge win for us.”
Pfiefer said the Highway 39 rivalry is alive and well, and it was nice for Estevan to bring the win home this time around.
“At the beginning of the game, the kids seemed a lot more locked in when we stepped out onto the field, and I think a lot of it had to do with the fact that they knew that they had to step up big today because we were down so many players and it turned out to be a really big motivator for them and they played hard, they played fast and came away with a big win.”
He also credited his running back, TJ Thompson, for an outstanding performance.
“I have to give credit to our running back, TJ Thompson. He had an absolutely outstanding game. He had two touchdowns on the ground and 1:00 throughout the air. Ryder Mantei, our quarterback, had a fantastic game, you know. No turnovers is always a big thing for our offense and we came away with that today.”
Pfiefer also noted a special moment for one of his players.
“Other than that, we had a player score his first touchdown of the season, that was Hayden Tokarchuk, and overall it was just a really good performance all around from the defense and the offense, honestly. Anybody who had to get slotted into those positions, even though they weren't familiar with it, they rose to the occasion and they gave me a ‘Yes, coach, I can do that,’ and they went in, they played as hard as they possibly could.”
The Oilers will face the Swift Current Steelers on Sunday, October 6, at 1 p.m. at Woodlawn Athletic Field in Estevan. It will be their first meeting of the season.
“This will be our first meeting and I'm feeling confident going into it. I mean, we've had a very strong season so far and it's going to be a lot of fun. The Steelers are going to be a tough matchup just like anybody else in this league. I mean, we can't take anything for granted, and we gotta go out there and we gotta play the Oiler football that we know how to play.”
With one regular-season home game remaining, the Oilers are preparing for playoffs. Depending on how the final week plays out, Pfiefer said it’s possible the Oilers could host a playoff game, which would be a significant achievement for the team.
“As for the rest of the season, I mean we have one last home game here at the regular season and after that playoffs start when playoffs start. Depending on how the rest of the last week of the regular season plays out, it's not entirely out of the cards to see us host a home playoff game, which would be incredibly exciting. For us, I don't know if it's ever happened in the history of the Oilers, but hosting a home playoff game would be incredibly exciting for everybody. We'd be able to, you know, you'd be able to see some really good playoff football down here in Estevan, and it would be a lot of fun for everybody.”