Football Weekend in Saskatchewan a hit with young fans

Good seating, tasty snacks and three great football games were enough to keep young fans entertained at Mosaic Stadium this weekend.

Football Weekend in Saskatchewan was in Regina, featuring two days of football action.

Many young fans took to the stands to cheer on the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders on Friday night against the Edmonton Elks.

On Saturday, there were two rivalry games, with the Saskatoon Hilltops duking it out with the Regina Thunder in a Prairie Football Conference contest and the University of Saskatchewan Huskies playing the University of Regina Rams in Canada West action.

Presley Szabo attended the PFC rivalry game. She was excited to watch her cousin Keane Szabo, a fullback with the Thunder.

Szabo came to the game to cheer on the Thunder, but said she’s always excited to cheer on the Roughriders as well.

A few days ago Szabo met Roughriders quarterback Cody Fajardo. She called him “very nice.

“He signed my younger cousin’s jersey of himself actually, and my younger cousin’s shirt,” Szabo said.

The Roughriders fell to the Elks 26-24, keeping the Elks in contention for the playoffs.

Cruz Boutin was cheering on the sidelines for a relative who plays for the Hilltops. Boutin said his favourite part of watching football is the tackling.

In his spare time, Boutin also plays on his own flag football team.

Boutin explained that the best part of playing is “pulling people’s flags and getting touchdowns.” He’s spent lots of time at the stadium cheering on the Roughriders, but he said the best part of the game is not high-fiving Gainer the Gopher or ringing the cowbell.

“I get lots of snacks,” said Boutin, adding that giant pretzels are his favourite.

Jackson Peters is excited to cheer on “Uncle Matt” — linebacker Matt Wist of the Hilltops.

“My favourite time is when they score a (touchdown) and everybody claps,” said Peters.

Peters has not been to Roughriders game yet, but wants to go sometime soon.

Theren Pelzer hoped his cousin, Thunder player Isaac Foord, would catch the ball in the end zone.

Pelzer plays on his own flag football team and said he’s the best at catching the ball.

His cousin, Naveah Pelzer, was there to cheer him on.

“I love supporting him and watching him play and just doing what he loves,” she said, adding that nothing compares to the thrill of a football game.

“I like sitting in the stands,” said Nevaeh, “(and) getting the rush from the crowd when they get touchdowns so they can cheer on the team.”

The Thunder beat the Hilltops 23-7, before the Huskies triumphed over the Rams 11-10 in a defensive struggle.