Peewee Mustangs host 3 team Jamboree

Left to right - Mustangs, Raiders, Comets
T. Lucas photos

• Coach Tom's Corner
• On the sidelines at the Peewee Mustangs Jamboree

Coach Tom's Corner - Coach Tom Holoboff, Contributor

Well Mustang fans, last Saturday saw our local heroes host the annual Peewee Mustangs Jamboree. The Pincher Creek Mustangs hosted the Claresholm Raiders and the Raymond Comets. The teams played a round robin format with a skills competition during their breaks.

Raiders vs Mustangs

The Day started with the local hero Mustangs facing the Claresholm Raiders. These 2 teams truly are familiar friendly foes. The Raiders started on offense and with the exception of one long run for a touchdown the Mustangs defence kept the Raiders offense stymied. The D-line of Nailer Nelz, Gus The Meat  Halibert, Tyson The Man Teneycke and Real Deal Ty Anderson kept the Raiders runningbacks on the ground and their quarterbacks scratching their heads wondering what to try next. Gunner Trent Metcalfe and Isaac Spiderman Webb made some nice reads disrupting pass plays. The offense is still learning but showing great improvements. Jarret Jet Plante, Isaac Spiderman Webb and Mathew The Giant Bruder had nice runs to the left and right. Richie Hammer Time Lagrandeur and Cutter Lance Paleo made some nice runs up the middle. The highlight for the offense was when one time wonder Ty Real Deal Anderson carried the ball straight up the middle for about 25 yards. Catman Caleb Jones showed some stealth moves but was unable to connect with his receivers. The game ended in a consistent fashion - two long-run touchdowns for the Raiders, zero for the Mustangs.

Mustangs # 39 Richie 'The  Hammer" Lagrandeur tackles a Comet

The second game saw the local heroes taking on the Raymond Comets. The Comets, while not big in size, were big on skill and speed. The Comets started on Offense and showed consistent play calling to move the ball down the field. Justin Equalizer Nelson and Evan Hitman Mallhi both made big hits during the Comets drive. At one point Richie The Hammer Lagrandeur made what coach Tom could only describe as the perfect tackle. Tenacious Tegan Teneycke hit one player so hard her wrist quit playing on her, she wanted to but it said no. The Mustangs offense again showed it could move the ball right with Jarret Jet Plante or Isaac Spiderman Webb, then left with Giant Mathew Bruder. Cutter Lance Paleo and Richie Hammer Time Lagrandeur pounded the ball up the middle all game. Grace Hands Kirkness and Curtis Ironman Giesbrecht had passes just slide off their fingertips, illustrating the hard luck pass game. Quinn the Silencer and Bullet Brody Walter played consistent error free ball when provided the opportunity. The end of the game saw the familiar score of Comets 2 touchdowns to zero for the Mustangs.

Raiders vs Comets

The last game (between the Raiders and the Comets) saw two well matched teams play to a 1 touchdown each tie. The skills competition was closely contested with both the Comets and Raiders having to chose winners through a tie breaker. Grace Hands Kirkness won the Mustangs skill competition with the highest score recorded by any team. At the end of the day all the teams had a lot of fun playing a great game. The weather was perfect and the fans were cheering all day long. One could not think of a better way to spend Saturday afternoon.

Until next week this is coach Tom reminding all you sports fans everyday is a great day for football.

Raiders vs Comets

On the sidelines at the Peewee Mustangs Jamboree - Toni Lucas, Pincher Creek Voice

The Pincher Creek Peewee Mustangs Jamboree was held on the Matthew Halton field on September 14.  Three teams came to learn more about the positions and game, have fun and enjoy football. The day was bright and sunny, the breeze cooling and gentle and the bleachers were filled with excited onlookers.

Raymond Comets huddle

Three games were played back to back:  Mustangs versus Raiders then Mustangs Versus Comets followed by Raiders Versus Comets.  The teams played on a half field with a skills competition set up on the other half of the field.  Officials on all three teams said that at this level it is not about who wins and loses, it was about developing skills, trying a variety of positions, learning and getting the chance to face other teams.

Members of the Claresholm Raiders work on their skills

"This Jamboree is a great experience for the kids," said Raiders Assistant Coach Sheldon Smeltzer.  His team had played their first game of the day and were working on the skills competition when I talked with him.

Mustangs vs Comets

President of the Raymond Minor Football Peggy Gibb  said "Our boys are playing football.  It's wonderful."  Gibb explained that the team was composed of grade 6 students.  "We are developing their skills, and fine tuning, so when they hit Bantam, they are prepared."  She was very happy with the work that the coaches have been doing with the players.  "I even have had community members that don't have kids playing that step up and coach.  They love the sport, they want to teach the kids the sport, and want them to come out loving football."

"This is the first time I've been here, and I've been told by people in hockey, baseball and football that anything held here, Pincher Creek does an amazing job of hosting and organizing.  It seems to be true."

Mustangs work on their skills

"The kids are just excited to play," said Peewee Mustangs Coach Tom Holoboff during a break in the action.

"It's a Jamboree, so it's more of a learning experience.  We are trying to teach the kids to focus on skill, and execution. Football is a group of twelve people moving the ball towards a goal.  We try to teach each person their skill, their job, so they all do it as a group, and move the ball forward."

Mustangs vs Comets

"It's important to start developing the kids at this level, because when they're in senior high school they're playing against kids that started playing when they were nine and ten year olds playing in Atom and Peewee.  At this level, we focus mostly on just skill.  We teach everybody everything. Then when they go to Bantam, they don't have to worry so much about the fundamental skills, they start to learn how to execute plays.  Then when they're at senior high, they teach at a higher level.  The plays are so definite, are so refined.  They don't have to worry about their skills, they know where the play is supposed to go.  Then they just have to worry about making the proper cut.  They just have to worry about where the defender is because they have to make adjustment.  At this level, it's just skill."

Mustangs #16 Mathew Bruder works on his skills

Coach Holoboff said there were 17 kids signed up for Peewee Mustangs this season.  "I have about six returning, and twelve new kids."

"Always the highlight of the year is the October long weekend the Raiders invite us to play at McMahon.   That's a big thrill, to play on the field that the big guys play on."

The Peewee Mustangs travel to Lethbridge for a game next Saturday, September 21.

2013 Peewee Mustangs:

11 Tegan Teneycke
16 Mathew Bruder
21 Isaac Webb
22 Brody Walter
24 Jarret Plante
26 Evan Malhi
28 Curtis Giesbrecht
38 Lance Paleo
39 Richie Myles-Lagrandeur
40 Caleb Jones
41 Trent Metcalfe
42 Gus Halibert
44 Justin Nelson
48 Quinn Parker Whitlow
52 Grace Kirkness
58 Ty Anderson
90 Tysen Teneycke
36 Nelz Vance

Head Coach: Tom Holoboff
Coaching Staff: Robert Plante, Mark Barber, Dylan Barber

Bantam Coach Travis Liscombe

Alison Mahli