The MUCC Comets line up during their provincial quarterfinal match-up against Humboldt Collegiate Institute. (Facebook/Melfort Comet Football)

By Aaron Schulze

Comets in the Semi's

MUCC Comets hope weather isn’t a factor in provincial semifinals

Nov 1, 2019 | 4:43 PM

There’s still snow on the ground in Melfort, but as long as there’s no flurries on Saturday, Nov. 2 the Melfort and Unit Comprehensive Collegiate (MUCC) Comets will be thrilled.

Snow dumped during the Comets’ first playoff game at MUCC’s football field against Humboldt Collegiate Institute on Oct. 26, but the Comets were able to defeat Humboldt 55-14 in the Saskatchewan High Schools Athletic Association (SHSAA) 4A nine-man football quarter-finals.

Comets Head Coach Dave Rogers called it the best game his players have played this season.

“Intensity [wise] the biggest difference,” Rogers said. “All the guys were locked in and came ready to play, and that definitely showed up in our execution on offence and special teams. There are still a couple of things we need to clean up in terms of our coverage punt cover team, but for the most part our kids were locked in and prepared.”

Snowfall and wind disrupt how footballs consistently travel in the air, so Rogers said any games – especially their win against Humboldt – can down to how well the Comets ran the ball.

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“We had excellent offensive line play and tremendous ball security; we didn’t lose any fumbles,” he said. “Our offensive line opened up really good holes for our running backs and we made good decisions with the football in terms of our quarterback play.”

Environment Canada predicts clouds with a high of 3 Celsius in Melfort on Saturday. If the forecast holds up, Rogers hopes to implement more of the Comets’ passing game.

In terms of what the Comets can control, they’ve studied their semifinal opponent: John Paul II Collegiate from North Battleford.

John Paul II entered the playoffs with a reverse perfect season of 0-6, but they knocked off Broadview School in the quarter-finals 46-16.

In comparison, the Comets defeated Humboldt – who are in the same conference as John Paul II and had a 4-2 regular season record – by 41 points.

However, Rogers said he and the Comets won’t overlook John Paul II this late in the season.

“They have some fast kids, maybe not the biggest, but they’re fast and athletic and that makes them dangerous,” he said. “We’ll have to take away those things they do best like running the pitch. We’ll need to make some explosive plays on offence and make sure we’re good with the football. You can’t give up the ball with fumbles and interceptions. When the field conditions get worse, the ball really becomes the program and holding on to and controlling the ball becomes the best way to win.”

The winner will face either Martensville (6-0) or Fort Qu’Appelle (2-4) in the provincial championship. Kickoff for the semifinal at MUCC’s football field is at 1 p.m.

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aaron.schulze@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @SchulzePANow