Nationals get bye into semifinals

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This article was published 20/10/2015 (3926 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It’s been a solid season for the Transcona Nationals football team, despite a disappointing late season loss to their crosstown rivals.

After going seven games undefeated, the Transcona Nationals of the Midget Football League of Manitoba fell in the final game of the season to league rivals the St. Vital Mustangs by a score of 18-15.

“Our guys felt comfortable where they were,” Nationals coach Steve Hoel said. “They came out and they were hungrier.”

Hoel said the Nationals suffered from a couple injuries early on, which swung the momentum in favour of the Mustangs.

“They capitalized on a lot of opportunities,” he said. “We also had a couple unfortunate penalties that hurt us.”

Despite the late season loss, the Nationals had a solid season, going 7-1 and only giving up a total of 19 points in eight regular season games to finish first in the league.

“Defensively, we were above par with everything we did. Our defensive coaches were able to put the guys in the best positions every game,” Hoel said.

While the Nationals’ defence proved to be an almost insurmountable wall, Hoel said it was their offensive play that really set them apart.

“Our running game was our power this year,” Hoel said. “We run a jumbo package that’s pretty big. I’d say we have almost 2,000 pounds on that front lines. That’s a lot of bodies out there smashing and grinding.”

The Mustangs, who also went 7-1, placed second. Both teams get a bye to the semifinal round of the playoffs. In the quarter-final round, the third-place Southwest Wolves take on the sixth-place Sunrise Coyotes, while the fourth-place Greendell Falcons battle the fifth-place Interlake Thunder.

Even though Transcona were able to easily handle any of those teams during the regular season, Hoel said that the Nationals are taking nothing for granted in their semifinal match-up.

“It’s playoff football,” he said. “Every team comes out and they’re a different team than they were in the regular season. Every play counts.”

With a large number of players graduating out at the end of the season, Hoel said each play takes on even greater personal meaning to his players.

“We talk a lot about ‘the last play’,” he said. “What will the last play you leave on the field be?”

The Nationals take to the field for the Midget Football League of Manitoba semifinals on Sun., Oct. 25.

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