By: Mike Still
Feature photo: Team blue’s Tyler Hodgson fights for more yards after making a grab during the first half of play.
The Winnipeg Rifles put on a show yet again this weekend, offering up plenty of highlights during their annual team scrimmage at St. Vital Mustangs field. In the end, team blue came out on top, surviving a last-second field goal attempt from team white to capture the 20-19 win.
Plenty of familiar faces made plays in this one, led by fourth-year team blue receiver/h-back Tyler Hodgson, who scored the game-winning touchdown on a pass from starting pivot Riley Naujoks and had a few other big gainers for his side.
Last season he was the team’s second leading receiver with 248 yards and will be looked upon as one of the go-to guys in 2019 with the graduation of both Brendan Naujoks (now with Manitoba) and Griffin Shillingford (now with Bishop’s).
“It’s good, it’s always fun to play against your team,” the 6’5″, 215-pound Hodgson said postgame.
“Nothing is too serious, but it’s good to be able to show what we’ve put into it in training camp over the last two weeks and just play a game.”
Not to be outdone was fellow team blue receiver Eric Klein, another big-body veteran at 6’3, 215 pounds. He had multiple catches, including a long touchdown reception on a toss from Naujoks.
On the other side receiving-wise, third-year Gabe Grenier and second-year Luke McMillan both had notable days. The former is a versatile option with experience as a quarterback as well, while the latter saw starting time as a rookie towards the end of the 2018 season and is a viable option as both a pass-catcher and returner.
Add in former Kamloops standout Timmy Solypa, the soft hands of second-year Jake Roger, the tenacity of second-year Sheycoy Selent and the experience of fifth-year Dallas Opiola and you have the recipe for what could be a very successful passing attack.
“We’re all friends. We get along really well,” Hodgson said of the dynamic around the promising group of receivers.
“We get the playbook and nobody is messing up mentally. We’re all really dialled in. Our team, we’re really diverse. I’m the biggest guy but we have guys who are nice and quick and fast. We have threats short yardage, mid and long for sure.”
While there were plenty of flashy plays offensively — including a number of impressive downhill runs by third-year team white running back Mathe Mitayang — the defence certainly came to play as well. Both sides had multiple interceptions, including one from team white’s Barrett Mueller, picking up right where he left off after a dominant showing against Augsburg College back in the spring. His teammate, rookie defensive back Alex Minor also had a pick six.
The Rifles will now direct their focus to week one of the regular season, taking place in eight days against the five-time defending national champion Saskatoon Hilltops.