MOOSEJAWTODAY.COM -- The Peacock Tornadoes went into their Â鶹ÊÓƵ Rural Football League contest with the Swift Current Colts on Saturday afternoon knowing they were going to be a bit of a one-dimensional team.
With running back Rayan Yuhas-Gebhart out of the line-up due to damage sustained the previous week against Central, the Tornadoes were looking to put their air attack to the test against a Colts team that had shown the ability to pressure the quarterback in their season-opening loss to Yorkton.
It all ended up working out quite well for the home team, though, as after a slow start in the first half, things came together for Peacock after the break, with the Tornadoes eventually going on to a 21-0 victory at Gutheridge Field.
“We were hoping there wouldn’t be windy conditions, we got a bit lucky with the weather today because the wind always affects your passing game,” said Peacock head coach Bert Redstone after his troops put up 14 points in the second half to secure the victory. “Our quarterback and receivers knew it coming in and they stepped up today, they had to carry us and they did. Credit to the o-line, too, for giving Owen time and credit to all those guys for being ready to go today without our running back.”
Tornadoes quarterback Owen Varjassy had a solid outing, completing 12 of 26 passes for 290 yards and a single interception to go along with a pair of touchdowns through the air.
Kingston Potosme-Usher got things started with a five-yard touchdown reception with three minutes remaining in the first quarter, marking the only points in the game in the first half.
That was in no small part to the Colts performing as expected, with their offensive line and linebackers constantly creating pressure.
“You look on film and Swift Current’s linebackers are super physical, they bring it, they’re fast, their line is huge and they came out and played exactly like that,” Redstone lauded. “Credit to Swift, they were holding us down, we’re just no quite there and can’t make passes, Owen is rushed in the pocket, 45 (Jackson Gording-Dovell) is bringing it, 41 (Zachary Potter) is bringing it every time. So credit to Swift Current for bringing a good gameplan and playing a good game.”
While neither team had much to do with the running game on the day, Varjassy broke off a 28-yard run early in the second half to get to the Colts three-yard line, and one play later he’d carry it in himself to make it a 14-0 game with 9:29 to play in the third quarter.
There things stood until 2:41 remained in the contest, when Nate Measner hauled in a 40-yard strike down the sideline for Peacock’s third major of the game.
Potsome-Usher was Varjassy’s favourite target and finished with seven catches for 151 yards to lead the Toilers’ offence.
Owen Sletten was 13-for-31 passing for Swift Current, gaining 134 yards through the air, with Derric Dularte hauling in five catches for 54 yards.
The Tornadoes defence was tough in its own right, holding the Colts to negative-17 yards rushing and 117 yards of total offence.
Seeing both teams airing it out and making a handful of spectacular plays in the process wasn’t too much of a surprise to Redstone, especially with the way the high school game in the Â鶹ÊÓƵ Rural league has evolved in recent years.
“The trickle-down has really made it to high school sports with the passing game taking over,” he said. “Every team is playing five-wide, Swift Current played five-wide today and sometimes even went empty and six-wide… all these teams are just adjusting to the passing game. Youth coaches are developing these kids who can come in and play quarterback, so you can see the talent coming into the league and it’s exciting football.”
Other results on the weekend saw the Central Cyclones improve to 2-0 with a 61-0 win over the Estevan Elecs in Estevan, while the Weyburn Eagles began the defence of their 5A provincial championship with a 24-3 win over the Yorkton Raiders in windy conditions in Yorkton.
League action continues this weekend with Weyburn at Balgonie on Thursday night, followed by Central at Swift Current and Yorkton at Estevan on Friday.
