Bantam Rebels football players honoured with all-star spots and league awards

Times Photo Courtesy of Marley Rae Photography. AWARDED: Coach Jamie O’Connor displays the Coaching Staff of the Year award won by the Taber Bantam Rebels, flanked by his Rebels players named to the SAMFA all-star team.

By Garrett Simmons
For Taber Times

Earlier this month, the best bantam football players in the south gathered for the Southern Alberta High School Football League all-star game.

Taber was well represented at the contest, as 10 players earned the nod to participate.

Harmon Pierson, Lincoln Torsius, Tomasi Masilago, Greycen Standing, Linden Payne, Preston Wight, Hosea Unger, Bennett Hughes, Gavin Maksymytz and Rylan Layton all took the field on May 3 at the University of Lethbridge.

The Rebels contingent was led by Unger, this year’s Nine-a-side SAMFA League MVP .

“Moving from Ontario last summer and this being his first football season ever, Hosea took the league by storm,” said bantam Rebels head coach Jamie O’Connor. “It started with him studying and putting in extra time and asking questions to learn positions and how a playbook was read properly. From there, he allowed his quickness, strength and his athletic abilities to take over.”

A slotback on offence, who also filled in at four games at running back early in the year, Unger took on every challenge head on.

“Without hesitation and knowing he would have to go over the playbook again and relearn what he needed to do at running back showed the work ethic and commitment of wanting to be a great teammate and advance his skills as a player,” said O’Connor. “He had tremendous success in his rookie season, leading the team in many categories, and led on the field by his own example.”

At the linebacker position on defence, the coach added Unger was equally dominant.

“Hosea’s speed, tackling, football intelligence and playmaking ability were very special to watch this season,” said O’Connor, who added the Rebels boasted the two best players in the league, in Unger and RB/LB Harmon Pierson, who was awarded SAMFA Most Outstanding Offensive Player, and also received the SAMFA All Star Game Most Outstanding Offensive Back.

“Harmon plays the true definition of a running back in my opinion,” said the coach. “He’s fast, very physical, punishing and electrifying when he cuts into the open field.  He’s fun to watch and I’m looking forward to watching him perform in high school over the next three years.”

Pierson was a leader in the linebacker core and had ball carriers nervous to enter his territory.

“There is no denying that he plays as hard as he practised day in and day out through the season,” said O’Connor. “He was a true leader on the team that led by his actions and play on the field.”

Wight captured the Nine-a-side Rookie of the Year.

“When it came to voting, there was no question amongst the league, when you have a rookie QB lead your team to a Tier 2 Provincial title,” said O’Connor. “Preston ended up scoring the game winning TD in Ponoka last November with a QB keep from about 12 yards out and managed to push his way through the scrum of at least 14 players and to our surprise came out the other side, untouched and ran into the end zone.”

The coach added Wight had a tremendous year, came in prepared and ready to work hard, as the team wasn’t certain who was going to lead the team at the most important position. “He has a good field of vision and his confidence steadily increased as the weeks went by,” said O’Connor. “He had a calming presence in the huddle and never allowed the group to get too high or too low. His performance, poise and confidence allowed us coaches to really expand the playbook and gave us so many options to run on offence.”

Masilago was awarded the league Most Outstanding Special Teams Player.

“Tomas caught the league by surprise but then immediately put them on notice as he was able to put up eight single points with his punting ability,” said O’Connor. “Some of his punts were travelling 60-plus yards, which is incredible for a young athlete of his age. We aren’t able to teach or coach the talent that he has with his punting ability. He’s developed that with his rugby background, and it was really fun to watch last season.”

Masilago was much more than a special team dynamo.

“Tomas was also a defensive stalwart for us, playing defensive tackle, plugging up the middle of the field and not allowing many teams to be able to run the ball, while he also capitalized on opportunities of being an opposing QB’s worst nightmare when he’d break through the line and sack them to the ground,” said O’Connor.

Maksymytz was awarded a spot on the All-SAMFA team for his exceptional play at the defensive back position, according to O’Connor.

“We don’t have position-specific awards like they do in high school, so SAMFA created this team to recognize those special players that we felt needed to be recognized,” said the coach. “Gavin grew and developed as the season progressed, and I do give most of that credit to Co-Defensive Coordinator and DBs coach Aiden O’Connor. We were very weak last season in being able to defend the pass, so we were excited that Aiden was able to join the staff and help us out in that specific position last fall.”

 Maksymytz reaped the benefit and came up with some big plays at key times throughout, with a memorable touchdown-saving tackle against Ponoka in the provincial championship.

“They score there and it’s a tie game and possibly regain some momentum, but Gavin never gave up on the play and was able to catch the receiver on the opposite side of the field and take him to the ground with a solo tackle,” said O’Connor. “We shut them down after that and they weren’t able to convert any points.”

Closing out the league awards portion, the Taber Rebels Coaching staff was awarded the league’s Coaching Staff of the Year. This award is voted on by the entire league.

“We were very surprised, but excited to receive such recognition amongst our peers in the league,” said O’Connor. “SAMFA has some amazing coaches and programs down here in southern Alberta, so it speaks volumes about what we were able to accomplish this past season.

This year was very special, with an amazing group of young athletes that were committed to our expectations, philosophies and how we were going to play the game.”

He added the staff emphasized the importance of being a competitor and pursuing excellence.

“However, we do recognize some of these kids simply love being part of the team atmosphere, and ultimately as a coaching staff, that’s what we are here for,” said O’Connor. “I like the fact that it’s the coaching staff that’s recognized within SAMFA. There are many coaching awards out there but I know how much work gets put in amongst all of us as a staff, and without that extra work after hours and in the evenings/weekends, we wouldn’t have the product and success that we do.”

The coach added the 2024 season was truly a team effort by the coaching staff.

“As they say, it takes a village, and I’d like to take this moment to recognize and thank Garrett Simmons, Jeremy Cooper, Aiden O’Connor, Adam Payne and Carsen Reid for their efforts this past season in assisting with coaching these amazing athletes,” he said. “I’d also like to recognize Emmitt Campbell as well. He’d been by my side the past seven years and did his best to try and make it work this season but was unable.”

Now that the 2024 has been wrapped up, the program is looking forward to the 2025 season. Bantam spring camp is set for June 2-5 and June 9-12 at W.R. Myers.

“If anyone is interested or knows someone that should be coming out to give it a try, this is the time,” said O’Connor. “Football is a game for everyone, no matter a person’s size, speed or talent level. There is a spot for everyone.

Check out taberrebelsfootball.com for season registration. Those with questions can also contact O’Connor at 780-220-1256.