SRSS Sabres fade in 2nd half versus league finalists

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This article was published 19/09/2024 (235 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Through 30 minutes on Spet. 12 in A.D. Penner Park, the Steinbach Regional Secondary School Sabres appeared on track to pull off a shocking upset in the Winnipeg High School Football League.

The Sabres had battled toe-to-toe with the Grant Park Pirates, one of last year’s league’s finalists. The game was tied 14-14 at the half-time break, with Grant Park needing to use a controversial trick play to score one of their touchdowns.

The excitement faded in the second half, with the Pirates pounding Steinbach through the run game, controlling the ball and the clock as the Sabres couldn’t match the increase in intensity.

After the game head coach Stephan Fedus said he saw the game as both an opportunity lost and as a learning experience for the team, which is 0-2 on the season, playing two of the best teams in the province in Grant Park and Dakota.

“(Grant Park) have that pedigree of turning it up a notch, and we have to learn to get there,” Fedus said.

“We’ll see what happens at practice this coming week. You can see it in their eyes, this one hurts. That’s a good thing, they care.”

The Pirates ran right through the Sabres in the second half, not letting an injury derail their potent running attack. While the Sabres defensive line found success at stopping the run in the first half, the second half saw Grant Park backs regularly break into the second and third level, running with a physicality Steinbach couldn’t match.

“We knew going in this would eventually be a challenge physically and it was,” Fedus said.

“We challenged the guys at the half, and (the Pirates) matched and exceeded. That just speaks to the pedigree of their program and where we’re trying to get.”

Toby Plett was effective passing the ball for the Sabres, especially in the first half, finishing with 285 yards and two touchdown throws.

While the second one was a shovel pass Dylan Godlewski took 45 yards for a touchdown, the first of the game was a thing of beauty. Plett spotted Marcus Johnson with a step on his defender in a seam route and put the ball right in his receiver’s hands 25 yards down the field in stride on the goal-line to tie the game early.

“There’s times where we’re making really, really good plays, and there’s times where we’re not,” Fedus said.

Josiah Griener led the rushing attack, averaging over 10 yards a carry with over 100 yards. Nigel Reader was the standout on defense, finishing with nine tackles.

While on paper a 0-2 start is tough for the Sabres, it came against two outstanding teams. Dakota, which defeated Steinbach 55-0 in the opening game of the season, might be on another level this season.

“There’s three or four teams in the last 25 years, and (Dakota) has a chance to be at that level,” Fedus said.

“It’s too early to say, we’ll see how their season goes, but they’re up there.”

Steinbach plays in what is probably the best division in the Winnipeg High School Football League, the Southeast Conference. Teams in the division only lost two cross-over games last season.

“Any of our conference opponents, we’re going to have to bring our best game,” Fedus said.

The Sabres will look to get back into the win column Sept. 19 when they take on conference-mates Vincent Massey at A.D. Penner. Kick-off is at 3 p.m.

Oakbank’s Springfield Sabres are 2-0 on the season, defeating Kildonan East 29-10 on Sept. 13.

JV Sabres off to strong start

Grant Park and Steinbach’s varsity teams weren’t the only ones to do battle this week on the gridiron, as the two junior varsity teams played a game Sept. 11. The Sabres are playing in the 9-player division this season in the junior varsity ranks.

The game was dominated by SRSS quarterback Arkin Pardon. Pardon was effective as a runner and a passer in the first half, as Grant Park struggled to tackle the elusive player whenever he ran outside the tackles. Pardon rushed for a touchdown and added on a pair of deep passes to Owen Medeiros to give Steinbach a 21-0 first half lead.

Grant Park’s defense amped up their play in the second half, forcing four fumbles from the Sabres to give their offense a chance. Steinbach’s defense was able to stand strong despite the tough field position, only giving up a single touchdown to give the Sabres a 21-8 victory to start the season. The junior varsity Steinbach football team played River East after press time Sept. 18.

They’ll next be in action at home Oct. 9 taking on West Kildonan at 4 p.m.