It was a big day for the Creighton Kodiaks last Thursday as they not only played their first-ever football game, but came up with a 39-21 win over the Sandy Bay Timberwolves.
The Kodiaks six-man football team joined the Northern Saskatchewan Football League this year and started their debut season off on the right foot.
Creighton’s Evan Linnick, Grade 12, scored the first touchdown in the history of the school to open the scoring in the first half.
“It was amazing,” said Linnick, who scored again later in the game. “It felt so good running and getting that first touchdown.”
It wasn’t just the running back who was thrilled with the first few points.
“It felt awesome,” said quarterback Blair Pietsch, Grade 11. “It was the very first touchdown of the game – of Creighton history. It was a great feeling all the way around.”
Coach Jason Straile shared his players’ enthusiasm. “It makes you feel pretty pumped,” he said. “We played really well.”
In Sandy Bay, a few hundred people came out to support the home team.
“I don’t think anyone has ever played in front of that many people,” said Straile of his team.
The Kodiaks hope to find similar support here in Flin Flon.
Their home opener tomorrow, Thursday, September 18 brings Cumberland House to the Creighton Community School field, where uprights were recently installed to make home games possible.
Middle linebacker Dean Rainville is optimistic for tomorrow’s game. “It will be a good game and probably pretty close,” he said.
Teammate Pietsch says he’s hoping for a great turnout from both the players and the fans.
“I’m hoping for a win,” he said. “Cumberland House will be challenging, but I think we can do it.”
Game time is 4 p.m.
Shaky start
In Sandy Bay last week the Kodiaks got off to a shaky start – though it was hard to tell by the game log. Creighton scored the first 14 points, but Sandy Bay came back to tie the game going into halftime.
The Kodiaks made it look like a breeze on paper, but Straile says there were a lot of “adjustments” on the field.
“A lot of learning had to happen in the first half,” said Straile, speaking of both players and coaches.
The game marked the first time the Kodiaks had come up against an outside opponent. Before Sandy Bay, they had only practised with scrimmages and drills.
The Kodiaks got back on their feet in the second half, continuing to dominate the scoreboard. They added three touchdowns and a field goal to end the game ahead 39-21.
Joining Linnick in the touchdown column was Brett Smith, with two, and Chris Reynolds, with one. Linnick also earned three conversions, each worth two points, and one field goal.
Tyler Williamson and Jordan Schanowski each had one interception. Pietsch notched three touchdown throws. Brennan Van Meer posted three sacks against the Timberwolves, with Rainville adding one.
Sandy Bay struggled and went scoreless until the final play of the game, but their last-minute points
weren’t enough to catch Creighton.
The pace of the game was a surprise for the Kodiaks.
“In practice, no one goes full speed or has that adrenaline rush,” said Straile. “It took them the entire first half to settle in and get an idea of the speed of the game.”
“The boys stepped up and played really well,” added Straile.
Next after the Cumberland match tomorrow is a rematch against the Timberwolves, this time on the Kodiaks’
home turf.
Impressive strides
The Kodiaks have come a long way since the idea of football was first mentioned in the spring, said Straile.
“They’ve come from not knowing what a down was or even how much a touchdown was worth, to playing their first game and winning,” said the coach. “Everything was new to them.”
Straile says the players work hard during practices and “it was nice to see it pay off.”
