By: Mike Still (@mikestill94)
Feature photo: Members of the River East Kodiaks hoist up the CTV Bowl following their win over Kelvin Friday night.
Sean Oleksewycz struggled to hold back tears as he stood side-by-side with senior pivot/halfback Sammy Hezekiah following River East’s 22-14 victory over Kelvin on friday night in the Division 2 CTV Bowl — the first championship for the school since 1997.
“You’re the best player I’ve ever coached,” he said to the University of Manitoba commit in an emotional post-game interview. “If [Sammy] just keeps his head up and keeps working and keeps his temper down, he’s going to the CFL.”
The duo have been closer than family ever since Hezekiah came to River East in grade nine. Originally a running back, it was Oleksewycz — the defensive coordinator for the Kodiaks at the time — who convinced Hezekiah to try his luck on the defensive side of the ball. That suggestion paid off, as the Nigeria native, who’s been lock-down all year, recorded the game-winning pick six to help his squad come back from a 14-13 second half deficit. He also added a forced fumble on defence, as well as over 200 all-purpose yards via the ground and air at the pivot position on route to being named the game’s MVP.
Not surprisingly, he gave full credit to his head coach for helping him get to where he is today.
“[Oleksewycz] is a huge mentor. He’s able to know so much because of all the things he’s been through in his life. He’s an amazing guy.”
The Kodiaks set the tone for the contest early on, driving the field on their first possession thanks to a long passing play from Hezekiah to receiver/kicker Reece Wyke, who would eventually kick a chip shot field goal.
Kelvin would stiffen up defensively, registering an interception, but the Kodiaks responded early in the second quarter as Joshua Desjarlias blocked a Clippers punt and JoJo Funk-Clements hopped on it in the endzone to give River East a 10-0 lead. Another big passing play to Wyke led to his second field goal of the game as River East — who went 6-1 during the regular season including a shutout over their championship game opponent — entered halftime up 13-0.
Kelvin came out rejuvenated in the second half however. They got on the board with six minutes left in the third on a Liam Stephenson run that was set up by unnecessary roughness and roughing the passer calls on the Kodiaks. Four minutes later the Clippers had their first lead of the game, as Adam Fast hauled in a touchdown pass from pivot Daniel Moroz on a drive that was aided by a massive punt return from fellow receiver Robin Brooks.
“We should have put them away early in the third, we knew that,” Oleksewycz said. “We knew they were a good team though and they made a run. But we fought through the adversity.”
The Clippers had a few chances to increase their lead, including a drive that started after a Fast interception, but were unable to put Hezekiah and company away. He’d make them pay later on with the game-winning pick, shutting down the highly touted Brock Gates in the process. The Kodiaks added another field goal from Wyke to cap the scoring.
When asked about what this win means to both himself and the school, Oleksewycz was quick to bring up current JV coach and former varsity bench boss Robin Meade, who was the one who brought the Kodiak and Mount Allison Mountie alum into the fold.
“Without Robin Meade I probably wouldn’t be coaching football,” he said emotionally. “I had a terrible experience at another school coaching there and basically Robin was like, ‘why don’t you come over here for a year and see how it is.’ He was another U SPORTS guy and we just meshed so well. I can’t say enough good things about him.”