By: Mike Still (@mikestill94)
Feature photo: Drenin Busch calls a play with running back Mathe Mitayango beside him. Photo by Matthew Hamilton.
This afternoon at St. Vital Mustangs Field, the Winnipeg Rifles hosted their annual team white versus team black scrimmage, as a tune up for next weekend’s season and home opener against the Edmonton Wildcats. Team white came out on top 19-4 in a scorcher, with temperatures reaching 36 degrees celsius.
The first half was filled with penalties, primarily coming from offside and illegal procedure calls. This was to be expected to an extent, as many younger players saw time due to multiple injuries to some key veterans, specifically on the offensive line.
Team Black, led by Riley Naujoks at quarterback, took the early 4-0 lead, thanks to a kickoff single and field goal from defensive back/kicker Adam Gottfried. Team white, who handed the controls to pivot Drenin Busch, bounced back with two field goals of their own however — thanks in part to some big runs by Mathe Mitayango — and led 6-4 at halftime.
Both defences were stout in the opening half, with defensive ends Machuor Akau and Noah Wilson getting to the quarterback multiple times for team black and white, respectively.
Team white opened things up in the second half, as Mitayango — who will have a key role in the offence this season — continued to roll. Busch also found a rhythm behind centre, adding two touchdown passes, one to Cole Chowen on a bubble screen and the other to Eric Klein on a great fade route. Overall, it was a solid day for the veteran pivot, who’s also suited up for the Manitoba Bisons and East Side Eagles post high school. He’s slated to be the backup behind Naujoks, but adds a critical level of experience to the squad.
“I just had to go out there and relax,” Busch said postgame. “Over the last five years playing quarterback I’ve always played so tense and put so much on me, that I knew coming into this year that I’d have to take a lot off myself and just play the game I used play back in high school.”
On top of throwing two touchdowns, Busch was also one of the kickers, and contributed all of team white’s points in the scrimmage.
“Last year and this year, my field goals have been a lot stronger than in the past,” he said. “I’m honestly not sure what’s been different, as last year I had the same holder that I’ve had since grade 10, and this year is a new holder, but everything went right down the middle again. Honestly I can’t say I’ve been doing anything differently, my follow-through has just been a lot more straight than anything.
Defensively, team black was shut out in the final two quarters, with Wilson adding a third sack.
Wilson, a Vincent Massey product and former member of the Rifles, has been away from the game for a few seasons due in part to his role as director of finance in 2016 and president in 2017 for the University of Manitoba Indigenous Students’ Association. This will be his last year of CJFL eligibility, and he’s looking to finish on a high note.
“I felt great, I felt loose,” Wilson said after the contest. “I’ve been taking care of my body, because I’m an old man on the field now comparatively to these younger guys running around, so keeping my body right has been key.
Everything was slowing down for me today. I felt like I was seeing plays quicker and was able to read them faster. I feel like I’m ready this year. I’m not looking back, I’m only looking forward from now on.”
The Winnipeg Rifles kick off their season this Saturday at 7 p.m. at home against the Edmonton Wildcats. The game will be played at St. Vital Mustangs field, and will be broadcast live on the Manitoba Sports Network’s Facebook page.