MOOSEJAWTODAY.COM -- The Central Cyclones and Peacock Toilers won’t have to wait all that long to renew hostilities in the SHSAA Â鶹´«Ã½AV Rural Football League.
The two Moose Jaw rivals will face off in the first weekend of action as the now seven-team league kicks off play this Friday and Saturday with a slate of three games.
The season officially gets underway on Friday night when the Swift Current Colts visit the Yorkton Raiders, followed by Central taking on Peacock at Gutheridge Field at 1 p.m. on Saturday and the Balgonie Greenall Griffins travelling to Estevan to face the Elecs at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
Balgonie returns to the rural league after playing in the Regina 5A loop for the past decade, giving the Â鶹´«Ã½AV Rural league a total of seven teams -- one of the largest slates in recent league history.
The defending league and SHSAA 5A 12-man provincial champion Weyburn Eagles have an opening-week bye but will be tested in their first game of the season when they travel to Yorkton on Friday, Sept. 13.
League play continues through the Saturday, Oct. 12 weekend, followed by the semifinals on Oct. 19 and championship final on Oct. 26. The Â鶹´«Ã½AV Rural champion will then face the Saskatoon 5A champions in the provincial semifinal, with the winner of that game hosting the Regina and North Sask semifinal winner for the provincial title on Nov. 9.
The Vanier Vikings will be looking to take another step in the right direction after a successful first season of SHSAA Nine-Aside Football in 2023.
The Vikings will open their new campaign on Friday, Sept. 13 when they travel to Lumsden to face the Devils followed by their home opener on Friday, Sept. 20 when the Notre Dame Hounds are at Elk’s Field.
Vanier also has an exhibition game against Fort Qu'Appelle this Friday night at Elk's Field, with kick-off at 5 p.m.
Vanier will then travel to Maple Creek on Sept. 27 and host Shaunavon on Oct. 4 before wrapping up their five-game regular season on Oct. 11. The start time for all Conference 2 games is 4 p.m.
Provincial playoffs begin on Oct. 26, with playoff continuing until the provincial nine-aside final on Nov. 9.
Vanier put together a 3-2 record in their inaugural campaign in Conference 2 and reached the semifinal before falling 33-14 to provincial powerhouse Shaunavon.
