The Yorkton Regional High School Raider Gridders made it a three-peat, winning the league championships three times in a row, but it wasn鈥檛 an easy game. The Swift Current Colts were determined to end Yorkton鈥檚 championship run, and got very close to doing it, before the Yorkton team pulled it out to take the 麻豆传媒AV Rural 12-man Football League championship on Nov. 2 at Century Field.
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After the first half, Yorkton was up by 14, but half-time reinvigorated the Swift Current team. After an interception by Rhett Vavra, the Colts changed the momentum, getting up 17-14 on Yorkton. While Yorkton tied it with a field goal, the game was tied at 17 well into the fourth quarter.
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Two plays changed it to Yorkton鈥檚 game. One, Val Declines had a huge run to set up a Raider Gridders touchdown, putting them up 24-17. Two, Brad Heskin, who also won a league award for best defensive player after the game, had a huge interception, which shut down any hope of a Colts comeback with a minute left. The final score was 31-17, with the Raider Gridders on top.
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Coach Jason Boyda gave credit to Swift Current for playing a really tough game, digging deep to stay in the contest.听
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鈥淭hey didn鈥檛 fold their tents, they fought to the end, so I give all the respect to Swift Current for staying in for the entire football game.鈥�
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But it was Yorkton鈥檚 players who came out on top, and Boyda said he鈥檚 proud of how they stayed in the game.
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鈥淭hey dug deep, the guys knew they had to play a full 48 minutes of football to win. It was a great, great team win today.鈥�
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The big rush that finally put Yorkton on top had Declines with the ball, but Boyda said it was the team that gave him the chance to get out and past the Colts.
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鈥淥ur O-line did a great job with the blocking schemes, Val saw a crease, did a nice little cut, he鈥檚 got wheels, he did a fantastic job with his ball security and making yards after contact鈥� He鈥檚 got a motor that doesn鈥檛 quit, I鈥檓 proud to be his coach.鈥�
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Heskin鈥檚 big interception was just one of many plays that lead him to co-win league defensive MVP, said Boyda, and he鈥檚 got tackles 鈥榓cross the field鈥� said Boyda.
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The game overall was a defensive game for both sides, and Boyda said that in the end, it鈥檚 the defense that won the game.
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鈥淭hey say defenses win championships, that鈥檚 the truth, because that was today.鈥�
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Now it鈥檚 time to prepare for provincials, for the first time on home turf, with Yorkton hosting the game next weekend.听
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鈥淚t鈥檚 something special when you have the opportunity to host a provincial championship game on your own turf. We have that opportunity, we鈥檙e going to prepare for it, especially having our whole community coming behind and supporting us. It鈥檚 going to be a good football game,鈥� said Boyda.
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Part of that preparation is going to be eliminating turnovers. Boyda said that there were far too many turnovers this game, with interceptions and lost fumbles ending drives prematurely.
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Going three in a row for league championships is a special moment for the team, said Boyda.
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鈥淚t鈥檚 so special, because the boys and the girls on our team work so hard, and to see their work pay off, that鈥檚 the best thing about coaching, to see these kids be successful.鈥�
