Winnipeg high school football record broken

A Winnipeg high school football record that has stood since 2009 has been broken by two different players.

Garden City’s Ryan Ozunko set the single-season touchdown record in 2009 with 23. Last year, Dakota’s Blake Penner tied that record, and now in 2024, a pair of quarterbacks have surpassed that mark.

Oak Park’s Kevan Savage is the new record holder with 26 touchdowns, while Dakota’s Rogan Vergata was one behind him with 25.

“It’s pretty cool,” Savage said. “While I was scoring, I went up to Tavin (Parani), the man who scored the touchdown. I gave him a big hug and then came to the sideline, where I was congratulated by the whole team.”

“I’ve been keeping an eye on it since 10th grade when I went to varsity,” Vergata said. “It’s just one of those things that I really wanted.”

They all helped lead their team to undefeated seasons and lead the league in passing yards: Vergata with 1,653 and Savage with 1,501.

“(Kevan) does a great job of getting the ball to the right person at the right time,” said Oak Park Head Coach Chris Ollson.

“It’s pretty cool, and again, kudos to both kids; it’s a pretty historic season,” said Dakota head coach Mitchell Harrison.

Savage said he idolized Peyton Manning as a kid and therefore always wanted to be a quarterback.

“I’m a big (Denver) Broncos fan, and then he got traded to the Broncos and they won the Super Bowl. So that was kind of my inspiration,” Savage said.

His football journey started with flag football before switching to contact when he entered high school.

Savage credits his football IQ as one of the biggest reasons he has had so much success this year.

“I’m not the biggest guy, not the tallest. So I have to use the mentality as an added advantage to compete.”

His coach agrees with Savage, saying his smarts shine both on and off the field.

“The guys feed off of him in the huddle,” Ollson said. “In his classrooms, he’s an over-80 student. And the players know they can rely on him to make the right decisions. Calm everyone down in the heat of the moment.”

Ollson called Savage an inspiration to younger players.

“They can look at what he did and follow in his footsteps.”

For Vergata, he always wanted to be the starting quarterback for the Dakota Lancers. However, when he first joined, he had to play other positions as the team already had a few in the system.

So when the opportunity arose, he wanted to take it.

“I think it definitely helped me develop as a player,” Vergata said.

Even as his individual numbers jump off the page, Vergata credits much of his success to his teammates and coaches.

“I think that’s the Dakota standard. We just have to keep doing what we’re doing. I think it’s a reflection of the coaching, (a) reflection of the tradition here.”

Like Savage, Vergata said he isn’t the biggest player on the court, so he has to rely on other aspects of his game to find success.

“My legs play a big role in my matches and only expand my game,” he said. “I’m big in the weight room. So stay fast, stay agile and just work on the things I can control.”

Coach Harrison said Vergata’s versatility and leadership have helped the team reach the level they are at today.

“I just think the way he can stay calm under pressure, escape that pressure and still play for someone is a really valuable skill set that a lot of teams would love to have in a quarterback,” Harrison said.

While both players are proud of the achievements, they said their main goal is winning a league championship.

Oak Park and Dakota will battle it out in the semifinals on Thursday, and if they win, they could face off in the finals.

“The whole touchdown thing has kind of got me fired up, and I’m ready for it,” Vergata said. “We have to get past Grant Park this week because they are a good opponent, but I’m excited about it.”

“If all goes well, it should be a good battle with him in the championships,” said Savage.

Oak Park will compete against St. Paul’s, while the Lancers will take on the Grant Park Pirates in the semifinals.