Champions!

The WHSFL started with 40 teams. Four teams ended their season with a win. The Wolverine Football team was one of them! What a feeling. To be a champion is really special!

It was an amazing game to be apart of. I suppose anytime you win a championship you're going to say it was amazing!

Again the story of this game, and the surprising Wolverine playoff run was defence! The Wolverines almost shutout the potent Celtic offence; an offence that averaged 24 points per game. The Celtics were able to score on the very last play of the game. However, the game did not start very well for the defence. The Celtics' QB Rosenfelt looked good early, driving down the field throwing the ball into tight coverage. The Celtics looked poised to strike first, and probably would have, if it were not for an amazing defence play by Wolverine all-star Austin Benevides. 

Coach Boughen, coaching up his All-Star DB Austin Benevides.

Benevides had another wonderful night defensively. Two knocked down passes and a pic. Making the stats more impressive was the fact that Benevides  was matched up against St.Norbert's best; the leading receiver in receptions in the Currie division, Coyston. Have a look below:

The Celtics' drive stalled and were forced to a FG attempt, which hit the upright. From that point on the defensive grind was on. The Celtics were able to move the ball between the 30s with some great pass plays. The Wolverine defence tightened up when it needed to and did not allow a point in the first half. The biggest run the Celtics had in the first half was a QB scramble for 8 yards. In the air, they allowed a short catch, and then their shifty receiver Coyston slipped some tackles and ran for 27 yards.

The best way to describe the Wolverine offence on this night, and their entire playoff run, is ground and pound! Let's face it; if you want a championship in November in Winnipeg, you need to play good defence, run the ball effectively and limit big special teams plays! That's exactly what the Wolverine playoff run was about. Below is another example of the Wolverine O-line opening holes for Fyfe.

 

The O-line, lead by captain Danton Beaudry in the middle, did an amazing job again on this night, making blocks and allowing Fyfe to run 32 times (3 short of a single game WHSFL record) for a hard fought 160 yards. Fyfe, and the O-line got a little bit of help from the passing game when, unlikely target Eyob Melese caught a 17 yard pass from Taylor Ward, late in the 3rd quarter. Have a look:

Defensive End Eyob Melese hauling in a pass. He is part of Wolverines double tight Rhino package.

Duane Penner, first year player in grade 10 had a great game. He finished the night with 3 tackles, as a corner ( all of them text book) and an INT. The INT was gift for Penner, as Rosenfelt threw up a muffin as Julian Beltrand was right in his kitchen reeking havoc. 

Wolverines sealed the game late in the fourth quarter. Celtics were facing a 3rd and 2 on their own 26 yard line. The Wolverine defence did their job and stopped them and forced the turnover. The offence took over ran a couple of run plays and then lined up for the FG, St.Norbert blocked the kicked; but did it illegally - coming right over center. 

St.Norbert Blocking the FG, but getting called for roughing the center.

That gave the Wolverines the ball on the Celtic one yard line. Taylor Ward easily punched it in for the TD. The Wolverines went for 2 and it was no good. Making the score 12-0 with 58 seconds left.

The Wolverines then went in a prevent defence making sure if the Celtics were to score they were going to have to take time to do it. The Celtics scored on a TD with 0:00 time left, on a nice scramble by Rosenfelt who got free and then threw a great touch pass just over Penner for the TD.

Gameover! Wolverines charge the field, as Currie division Champions.

The win capped off an improbable run for the Wolverines. At one point in the season the Wolverines were 2-3. They were able to turn their season around and make a great playoff run. Entering the post season as the fifth seed they were underdogs in each of their 3 playoff wins. They also had to face each of the three teams that beat them in the regular season. They say defence wins championships. The Wolverine defence played awesome. Lead by three year starter, grade 12 captain, and leader Ethan Marks. Ethan was injured near halftime in the second week of the season this year. He missed 6 regular season games but was able to come back just in time for the playoffs. He definitely made a difference at linebacker playing strong-side against DMCI, Elmwood, and Celtics. 

Grade 12 captain, Linebacker Ethan Marks

Grade 10 first year Wolverine Jordan Mages was also a key component to the defensive success.  Like Ethan he was injured during the regular season. He played in the playoffs with a casted broken finger. The big reason why the defence was so good in the playoffs; Mages and Marks were on the field at the same time! Because of injury it never happened in the regular season.

Grade 10 Linebacker - Jordan Mages.

Finally, last but not least was Simon Sepke. This kid is best described as a baller! Because of the injuries mentioned above most of the season Sepke was playing as an undersized LB. During the playoff run Sepke was able to play his natural position, safety! Calling all the plays, and formations. He is a very intelligent football player!

Grade 11 Safety- Simon Sepke

The playoff run was amazing, memories were made that will last a lifetime for these players and coaches. Great Season Wolverines!

Like every year, we worked hard this year. Feels good to be Champions

Next Wolverine game; spring camp late May

-Let's go Wolverines

-Corbin Boughen

WHAT A GAME!!

It was one for the ages. It was cold, it was windy, it was playoff football in Winnipeg - something we have not seen from the Bombers in a while, hahaha. It was a defensive grind, me being a defensive coordinator I loved it. Don't get me wrong I much prefer when our offence lights up the scoreboard for 50 points, but there is something special about a tight defensive battle in the playoffs! Especially when you win.

This was a true team victory for the Wolverines. On offence; the O-line did a great job opening holes for Fyfe all night long. Elmwood's defence is good. Heck, Elmwood's defence has been probable the best Currie Division D for the last two years. They don't give much. Their front seven are fast, big, and athletic! Coach Medwick's game-plan this week was to go right at the heart of their D, run inside! And it worked. Fyfe was able to pound the ball down the middle, 7 yards at a time. The offence was able to string together to long sustaining drives for scores. The first was in the 2nd quarter; they marched it down and came away with a missed field goal for a point. The second drive was in the 3rd quarter, where they took it right down the middle of the field and punched it in for seven points.

I know what you're thinking, that's it? Yup, and that's all the Wolverines needed! Wolverine defence played lights out! Plus driving it down the middle of the field against the Elmwood Giant defence is a great accomplishment.

The defence had a game plan, and they executed it perfectly. The game plan was STOP THE RUN! We did! We won! I love this play below. It doesn't seem like much but our MLB likes to bring it! He made this hit with three steps, and this kid is in grade 10, oh my!

The best part about this win(besides only allowing 3 pts) was the fact we got to knock off the champs, that we got to end the Giants' winning streak, and finally the fact that we got to beat the team that we lost to in the finals last year.

The Wolverines at one point this year were 2-3. They lost to DMCI, Elmwood, and St.Norbert. Have a look at the Wolverines Playoff bracket:

They beat DMCI, and just beat the GIANTS. Now they get to avenge their lost to the CELTICs. WOW this is fun stuff!

-Let's Go Wolverines

-Coach Boughen