A whole bunch of pre-season games are going to kick off in Nanaimo’s north end this weekend.
Football Nanaimo is hosting its annual pre-season tournaments at May Richards Bennett Pioneer Park on Saturday (Aug. 20) and Sunday.
The peewees will play Saturday from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. followed by the junior bantams from 1-4 p.m. On Sunday the bantam Nanaimo Redmen will take the field from 9:30 a.m.-noon, with the midget team going from noon-3 p.m.
The midget Redmen started their pre-season this past Sunday on the mainland against the White Rock South Surrey Titans.
The Redmen were outscored in the shootout-format exhibition five touchdowns to three. The game was close, as the Titans scored their last touchdown on an interception return as Nanaimo was trying to tie the score.
This weekend’s games will be the same shootout rules – offence versus defence, with no special teams play.
“It’s a great format for pre-season,” said Sean Roden, coach of the midget team. “You get a way higher number of reps in a quick succession.”
The Cowichan Bulldogs, Coquitlam Falcons and Meadow Ridge Knights will provide the opposition.
Even though the games will be just an hour long each, three in a row is a challenge.
“Not that that’s a bad thing, to kind of push them and see how far they can go and what they’re made of,” Roden said. “That can be a good thing early in the season to see who you can rely on down the stretch.”
GRID BITS … Football Nanaimo has good player numbers in all age divisions, but registration is still open at all levels. Any players 8-17 wishing to play tackle football this fall can find out information and sign up Tuesdays at 6 p.m. at Pioneer Park. Please visit www.footballnanaimo.com to learn more.
sports@nanaimobulletin.com