2013 Red River Cup: Wright leads Winnipeg West past BC to 2-0 record

St. Paul’s Crusaders tailback Trevor Wright is demonstrating that he just might be the best young ball carrier in Winnipeg.

In the final game of Day 1 at the 2013 Red River Cup, Wright was awarded player of the game as he lad Team Winnipeg West past Team Lower Mainland B.C. 21-16 to finish the first day  of competition 2-0.

Entering the final game of a day of mini-games, Wright came up with a sensational performance capped off with a 53-yard TD run to start the second half, as Team Winnipeg West beat the other dominant team in the event to grab top spot in the tournament with one day of round-robin play left.

Both teams went into the game with convincing victories over their opponents earlier in the day. Winnipeg West got a pair of touchdowns from Wright in a 27-6 win over  defending champion Team South Saskatchewan while Lower Mainland BC had a similarly easy first win, topping their opponents from North Saskatchewan 21-0, in a game that was capped off by a Manuel Lopez touchdown reception with 3:45 to go in the second half.

In the Showdown on Day 1, Winnipeg West came out slowly as Wright fumbled. B.C. took advantage of the momentum gained by a strong defensive effort, marching the ball down field and capping it off with an eight yard touchdown pass to stand out wide receiver Lopez to make it 7-0 in favor of B.C.

Winnipeg West would hunker down after that score, making a solid stop. Then they moved the ball downfield where wide out Ethan Paul out of the North Winnipeg Nomads took a direct snap at the B.C. three yard line and scampered in for six.  A missed extra point gave B.C. a 7-6 lead and that’s how the first half ended.

In the second half, both teams traded early touchdowns as Wright ran the ball 53-yards for a score and a temporary 13-7 lead. But B.C. answered almost immediately as quarterback Jacob Laberge hit runningback Alexsander Akpata on a 68-yard pass and run play. That gave B.C. a 14-13 advantage.

The offensive frenzy continued on the next possession as Winnipeg West quarterback Declan Kubel found Oak Park Raiders wide receiver, Shakur Harris for a 16-yard score. Wright ran in the two point conversion giving Winnipeg a 21-14 lead midway through the second half.

Winnipeg played solid defense throughout the game, including back-to-back sacks by Sisler Spartan defensive lineman Jarrell Crampton, who turned up his play and helped Winnipeg force a B.C. turnover on downs late in the game. Ibrahhim Bangura added an interception after Winnipeg turned over the ball on downs following a botched punt.

The game ended quite strangely with Winnipeg West trying to run out the clock. It looked like some bad clock management however, and Winnipeg turned over the ball on their own 1-yard line. Giving B.C. a chance to tie it up with seconds left in the game.  Winnipeg West’s defense was tested one last time as B.C. quarterback Laberge tied a quarterback sneak, However, he fumbled  and Winnipeg West recovered.  Winnipeg West then conceded a safety as the clock ran out.

 

DAY 1 SCORES
Saskatchewan North 14 Winnipeg East 13
Winnipeg West 27 Saskatchewan South 6
B.C. Lower Mainland 21 Saskatchewan North 0
Saskatchewan South 23 Winnipeg East 16
Winnipeg West 21 B.C. Lower Mainland 16

DAY 1 STANDINGS
Winnipeg West                2-0
B.C. Lower Mainland          1-1
Saskatchewan South           1-1
Saskatchewan North           1-1
Winnipeg East                0-2

 

It was a tremendous first day at Investors Group Field and the tournament continues again on Wednesday. Here’s the schedule for the rest of the week:

Wednesday, July 10
1:45 P.M.: Lower Mainland BC vs. South Saskatchewan
3:30 P.M.: North Saskatchewan vs. Winnipeg West
5:15 P.M.: Winnipeg East vs. Lower Mainland BC
7:00 P.M.: South Saskatchewan vs. North Saskatchewan
8:45 P.M: Winnipeg East vs. Winnipeg West

Saturday, July 13
Bronze Medal Round Robin
12:00 P.M.: Fourth vs. Fifth
1:45 P.M.:  Third vs. Fourth
3:30 P.M.: Fifth vs. Third

Saturday, July 13

Gold Medal Game
Time: 6 P.M.: First vs. Second

Source:  Scott Billeck, The Huddle Magazine http://thehuddle.co/

Photo credits:  Shawn Coates, the Huddle Magazine  http://thehuddle.co/