The MUCC Comets will face frozen field conditions for one final game this season, this time with a provincial championship at stake. (Facebook/Melfort Comet Football)

By Aaron Schulze

Comets For the Championship

MUCC Comets prepare for provincial championship final at home

Nov 8, 2019 | 5:00 PM

For the first time since 2015, the Melfort and Unit Comprehensive Collegiate (MUCC) Comets team will play in the 4A nine-man provincial football championship.

It’s hard to pinpoint the precise moment when the Comets were deemed championship contenders, as they never slowed down since their season opening win over L.P. Miller Comprehensive School 46-1.

The Comets finished conference play with a perfect 6-0 record and a plus 274-point differential. They continued momentum into the playoffs by defeating Humboldt Collegiate Institute 55-14 in quarter-finals and John Paul II from North Battleford 56-13 in the semifinals.

Dave Rogers, head coach of the Comets football team, insisted he also didn’t have an exact moment when he thought his team could be a championship contender.

“We talk a lot about improvement, not about championships or wins,” Rogers told northeastNOW. “Every time we step out on the field – whether it’s practice or a game – it’s an opportunity to improve. As we went through the season, we saw all our kids improving, whether they were starters or juniors. I learned when I played for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies: ‘when you’re through improving, you’re through.’ We challenged our kids every week and every day to be better than the day before, and I think what you see in this championship run is their commitment to improvement.”

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After eight games in the regular season and post-season, the stage is set for the provincial championship game at MUCC’s football field between the Comets and Martensville High School.

Rogers called Martensville a mirror image team of his Comets, as they also finished with an undefeated regular season and won their two previous post-season games by large margins (36-7 over L.P. Miller and 52-22 over Bert Fox Community High School).

“They have an explosive offence and a good defence,” he said. “I think the preparation remains largely the same. By this time of season, we have a few games of theirs to look at, so there’s not a lot of new things either team is going to show the other one. We know they’re well coached, they have good quality players, so I expect a good, solid football game. We’re going to have to play great football to be champions.”

Both MUCC and Martensville can prepare for one another as much as they want up until Saturday’s championship clash, but the weather is one key aspect of the game that’s out of their control.

As of publication, Environment Canada predicts a high chance of flurries in the afternoon.

Rain, snowfall, and wind disrupt how footballs consistently travel in the air, which means teams can end up relying too much on their run game.

As for field conditions, MUCC’s football field is shovelled but its soil is frozen solid. Rogers hopes for clear skies during the game but said field conditions and weather won’t be a deciding factor in the outcome.

“Weather and field conditions are equal for both teams, so it comes down to the team that can put that out of their mind and execute the best,” he said. “We get down into the finals, especially the cold November days, the three keys to a successful football game is not turning the ball over, executing on offence and get points when you can, and playing strong defence. The team that gives up the fewer turnovers is most likely to win.”

During a day of uncertainties such as who will win the provincial football championship and what the weather will look like, one guarantee is the spectator area at MUCC’s football field will be filled.

“I always like to thank the fans that come,” Rogers said. “If you travel all around to the various games no matter where we go – La Ronge, Nipawin, and Tisdale – we always have a really good section of Melfort fans who are parents, former players, girlfriends, and other students who come and watch our team.

“I feel we’re very well supported, so I would expect we’ll see a pretty big group of fans on Saturday. Martensville is going to bring a fan bus so we can expect a good, solid selection of their fans. I think we have a game day atmosphere that’s pretty special around here and I want to extend my thanks to those people who make that atmosphere possible.”

Kickoff for the 4A nine-man provincial football championship between the MUCC Comets and Martensville Royals is on Saturday, Nov. 9 at MUCC’s football field at 1 p.m.

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aaron.schulze@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @SchulzePANow