By: Mike Still (@mikestill94)
Veteran defensive back Braden Kowalski literally took the long road to play for the East Side Eagles in 2015.
An MMFA alum of the program — and later a standout for the WHSFL’s River East Kodiaks — Kowalski originally headed to Edmonton after high school to pursue a job in the oil rigs, despite making the Winnipeg Rifles roster.
But his heart was still in Winnipeg, and in the nick of time he booked it back to the 204 to be part of the first of four MMJFL titles in the last five years for East Side.
“I went to training camp with the [Edmonton] Huskies, but a bunch of stuff happened where I ended up having to come back to Winnipeg,” Kowalski says.
“I drove 18 hours straight and literally came straight to the field, because there was one spot left on the team. The rest is history.”
Kowalski sure made his presence felt last night in the finals MMJFL finals, recording two of East Side’s three second half interceptions in their 23-14 victory over St. Vital. It was the third straight year that a Transcona-based team had won the title.
Quarterback Lucas Johnston led the way offensively for the Mustangs with both his arms and feet and had his squad up 11-10 at halftime. Returner Austin Unraw also had a big game, including a big kick return that set up St, Vital’s goal line major.
But the Eagles fought back, getting a goal line touchdown from Dustin Jackson — set up by the arm of pivot Bryson McNeil — as well as a long Danny Harris touchdown to carry an early 23-14 fourth quarter lead.
St. Vital drove the ball into East Side territory on a few different occasions in the final 15 minutes, however three different drives were snuffed out by Eagles interceptions, the first of which came from captain Nick Martens.
He’s one of many players who were a part of all four championship teams and who are now officially hanging up the cleats.
“There’s no way I don’t hang out with these guys for the rest of my life,” he said.
“Winning was the best way to finish it off. I can’t express happy I am right now.”