Richard Froese
South Peace News
The Peace River Pioneers are just one win away from playing in the championship final of the first official season of the Alberta High School 9-a-Side Football League.
The Pioneers defeated the Whitecourt Cats 46-3 in the Peace Division final Nov. 4 in Peace River.
The game was originally scheduled for Nov. 2, but icy roads kept the Cats at home.
Deo Mapacpac returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown for the Pioneers, who led 22-0 after the first quarter, 38-0 at halftime and 44-3 after the third quarter.
Kolby Davis and Jakob Nousek scored the other Peace River touchdowns in the first quarter. Tobin Thomas and Davis added Pioneer majors in the second quarter.
Nousek added his second touchdown of the game in the third quarter.
The win qualifies the Pioneers for the provincial league semifinals on the weekend of Nov. 16 after a bye on the Nov. 9 weekend.
The Pioneers will host the league semifinal on Nov. 16 at 1 p.m. and will face the winner of a game Nov. 9 between No. 1 Frank Maddock Warriors, of Drayton Valley, and the Valleyview Hillside Cougars.
Head coach Mark Owens says the Pioneers are peaking at the right time and trust the momentum will carry them to the provincial final in the league that has played for the past three seasons.
“We have been building together as a team for the past two years and the hard work has shown,” Owens says.
“We are super-excited moving forward in the first 9-a-side provincial playoffs.”
He is optimistic about the future of the league.
“It is great to see the provincial league double in the numbers of teams this season,” Owens says.
“It has been positive to have the flexibility with smaller numbers (of players on a team) to play great and safe football.”
Peace Region Minor Football president Crystal Owens also commends the Pioneers.
“As a board and league, we are so proud of the Pioneers for all they have accomplished over the season and making it to the first-ever 9-a-side high school football provincials,” Owens says.
“Good luck to everyone playing over the next few weeks.”
The league and provincial final is scheduled for Nov. 22 at Grande Prairie at Hansen Lincoln Field at 6 p.m.
