WEYBURN – The Moose Jaw Central Cyclones invaded Darold Kot Field on Saturday afternoon to take on the Weyburn Comp Eagles in the 2023 Â鶹´«Ã½AV Rural Football League Championship game, which Weyburn won by the score of 28-8.
The Eagles came into the game as back-to-back champs and looking for a three-peat, while the Cyclones looked to spoil the party.
In the opening quarter, the Cyclones come out swinging, stuffing the Eagle offense on their first two drives and opening the scoring up with a 15-yard pass from Brodie Ansell to Mason Payne.
Unfortunately the convert was missed, but the Cyclones took the lead 6-0. This was the first time all season the Eagles were scored on first to start a game.
After another tough series for the Eagles, the Cyclones took over looking for more. On a deep pass down the middle, Ansell overthrew just enough to bring Jarret Hayward into play with the interception for the home side. On the very next play, Conner Kerr connected with Nolan Uhren on a 94-yard catch and run to energize the crowd and put the Eagles on the board, and with a successful convert, the Eagles had the lead 7-6.
Now the Eagles defense stepped up and held the Cyclone offense and forced a punt situation. When the Eagles took over, Kerr tossed it up to Isaiah Sanderson on a 42-yard quick strike and the Eagles pushed ahead 14-6.
Pressure continued from both teams in the second quarter and drives stalled. The Eagles pushed the Cyclones deep in their end just before the half, and in the final minute of the half Max Crane Intercepted a Brodie Ansell pass and took it to the end zone for a pick 6 and the Eagles headed into the locker room ecstatic to have a 21-6 lead on the board.
Central, realizing they needed to score, pushed the envelope a bit more in the third quarter and took some chances to push the Eagles defense down the field, and pressed the Eagles deep after a punt. An unsuccessful drive put the Eagles in a position deep in their end and decided to give up a safety to bring Central a bit closer at 21-8.
Just into the fourth quarter the Eagles put together a solid drive, moving the chains with some solid runs and pass combo’s, pushing down to the Cyclone five-yard line. Kerr tossed it up to Sanderson again and he came down with his second touchdown of the day, pushing the score to 28-8 in favor of the home side.
Central wasn’t done and put together their own drive pushing inside the Eagle five-yard line before the defense held and caused a turnover on downs to halt the drive. The Eagles in the shadow of their goal posts looked to kill some clock and put together a drive.
Kerr started it off with a 16-yard run and the drive took a few more plays before the Eagles were forced to punt. The Eagles D closed out the Cyclones with another stop and the home town squad held on to capture their third league title in a row with the 28-8 victory.
The Eagles put up 131 yards rushing on Saturday and 243 yards passing.
The Eagles will now host the Balgonie Griffins on Saturday, Nov. 4 at Darold Kot field at 1 p.m. in the SHSAA Â鶹´«Ã½AV final. The winner will host the provincial championship game on Saturday, Nov. 11 against either North Battleford or Saskatoon Aden Bowman.
