Landmark brings back football to the Southeast

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This article was published 29/09/2022 (956 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In Landmark they never say die when it comes to football, and a fledgling Landmark football club has purchased the equipment of the now-defunct Steinbach-Landmark Dutchmen for $700 and is back on the field with a community team in time for a brief exhibition schedule this year.

Ron Koop scores two touchdowns in the first half and Dennis Penner adds two more after half time on the way to a 44-7 victory over Elm Creek, in the Landmark Dutchmen’s first road game in October of 1964.

The visitors struck early and often after Ron Koop followed the blocking of Ray Plett for a 45-yard ramble from scrimmage to put the Dutchmen on the scoreboard first.

Elm Creek managed to punt for a single point in the first half, and the score at the end of 30 minutes was Landmark 19, Elm Creek 1.

Landmark opened up second half scoring with a touchdown by Len Barkman. Dennis Penner then added two more majors. Victor Reimer rounded out the scoring with the seventh Dutchmen touchdown of the day.

Elm Creek scored its lone major with two minutes left, when Don McGree took a short pass and went 30 yards for the touchdown. The convert attempt was wide.

On the defensive side of the ball, Eddie Hildebrand was outstanding for Landmark, intercepting two passes.

While it was an impressive debut victory for the retooled Dutchmen, The Carillon News sports editor Ralph Friesen was in no hurry to term the return of football to the Southeast a resounding success.

Walter Goshulak, a former member of the Steinbach-Landmark Dutchmen, who played almost every position and shared coaching duties, as well, says that Landmark is determined to keep interest in football alive in southeastern Manitoba.

In his column, Friesen says Landmark’s efforts to keep football alive in the Southeast is a noble aim, but even if you have a coach, a field, players and are able to whip up local enthusiasm, the team will still need a league to play in.

“It is conceivable that players of senior league age can play a few games without joining the league. But a team, be it hockey, baseball or football, has to play in a league to generate any real interest, with fans in the stands or players on the ice or on the field.”

Friesen suggests Landmark should spearhead efforts to start the first rural senior football league in Canada.