Steinbach Regional Sabres win with walk-off field goal

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This article was published 10/10/2024 (198 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The foot of Nigel Reader kept Steinbach Regional Secondary School’s high school football playoff hopes alive Oct. 3.

Reader kicked a 25-yard field goal in the final moments of their game against win-less Kelvin, giving Steinbach a 25-23 victory and moving them to 3-2 on the season.

It looked like the Sabres were going to cruise to a victory at the half-time break, holding a 16-0 lead after 24 minutes of play. By the time the fourth quarter started, Kelvin had found the end zone twice, tacking on a pair of two-point conversions to tie the game.

Steinbach was able to take the lead again, but a blocked extra point meant when Kelvin replied with a major of their own with just over a minute remaining, they were able to take a 23-22 lead.

Starting quarterback Toby Plett was able to lead a drive down the field when it counted, connecting with three different receivers in a one-minute drill to set up Reader’s heroics.

While Wade Anderson punched in the fourth quarter go-ahead touchdown, Steinbach’s ground attack continues to run mostly through Josiah Griener. The grade 12 running back finished with 230 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries.

Through five games, Griener has 658 total yards and leads the Winnipeg High School Football League’s AAAA division in both yards and carries.

Reader didn’t just knock home a game-winning field goal, he also led Steinbach defensively, finishing with a team leading 8 tackles and one sack.

The Varsity Sabres are back in action Oct. 10, when they take on Garden City at A.D. Penner Park. Kick-off is at 4:30 p.m.

Springfield is continuing their strong season in the North East Conference. The Oakbank-based Springfield Sabres blew out the Maples Marauders 46-0 Oct. 4.

Springfield controls their own fate when it comes to post-season play, as they are a game ahead of second-place River East in the conference standings.

After visiting the South West conference leading and undefeated Oak Park Raiders this week, the Sabres will take on River East Oct. 18 in Oakbank, where the conference championship could be on the line.

Junior Varsity

The junior varsity SRSS Sabres continue to roll and remain undefeated on the season after a pair of wins Oct. 2 and Oct. 8.

The Sabres are at the top of the standings in the WHSFL’s 9-player junior varsity division, and ran all over Sturgeon Heights Oct. 2 en route to a 51-22 victory.

Steinbach took control early, with Pavel Tsialipka notching two first quarter rushing touchdowns before a scoop and score fumble recovery by Owen Medeiros put the Sabres up 21-0 in the first half.

Steinbach kept up the pressure in the first half, and entered the break up 51-0.

There were even more dramatics to be had Oct. 8, as Steinbach defeated West Kildonan 21-16. The Sabres trailed late in the fourth quarter, but rallied to score two touchdowns in the final five minutes to take the lead, including a punt block and recovery in the endzone by Logan Toews.

Even that wasn’t enough, as a West Kildonan long passing play ended when the receiver was tackled from behind at the one yard line. Steinbach rallied for a goal-line stand to clinch the game, and keep their record unblemished. The Sabres play Miles Mac and Vincent Massey in their final regular season games of the year, including their final home game Oct. 15.

Minor Football

Playoff football will be coming to A.D. Penner Park this weekend, as the Eastman Raiders minor football program hosts games.

The program’s U16 team battled the St Vital Mustangs in a match-up of undefeated teams Oct. 7 in Winnipeg, winning that game and clinching top seed for the playoffs. That result means a game against the Winnipeg Rods Oct. 12 in A.D. Penner Park, with kick-off at 9:30 a.m.

Eastman U12 and U14 teams will also have playoff games Saturday at 12:15 p.m. and 3 p.m. respectively.