The Central Cyclones defeated the Estevan Elecs 61 - 7 in South 5A 12-Man Football League regular season action Saturday afternoon in Estevan.
The win puts the Cyclones in a three way tie with the Weyburn Eagles and the Yorkton Raiders for regular season play.
“It was a good way to wrap up the season and get ready for the playoffs, the playoff run we are hoping to go on. It was one of those opportunities for a lot of the kids on our team to see some playing time," Central Cyclones head coach Colin Belsher said.
"Our being a younger team and getting poised for playoffs, it was a great opportunity to kind of see where we are as a team and now we can put our focus on Yorkton in the playoffs."
Belsher employed a strategy where many of the team’s starters did not play in the second half - including star running back Javin Boynton.
Boynton was a stand out once again for the Cyclones wracking up 200 yards in 12 carries or an average of 16.7 yards per carry. He would go on to score first half touchdowns.
“A lot of the young kids saw playing time today. You know when you get into a game like that it bodes well for the future. It gives them that real game time experience,” Belsher said, adding “and it is you know also kind of a reward for those who work hard all year and you know maybe they are younger and they don’t quite see enough time on the field as the older kids and it is a great opportunity to be rewarded that way.”
Craik would throw three completions out of five attempts for 65 yards or 21.7 yards average per throw.
Starting quarterback Brodie Ansell would complete nine passes out of 15 attempts for 104 yards averaging 11.6 yards per pass. Ansell would also rush the ball for 50 yards on two carries.
Belsher said the game offered the opportunity for players - especially seniors - to make memories to last a lifetime.
“High school football is all about making memories. Whether it is championships, or hanging out with your buddies on the bus, or scoring your first ever touchdown, or making your first ever tackle, or whatever happens that is what football is all about. It is about having a great time and spending time with your friends.”
Also scoring touchdowns for the Cyclones were Nicholas Schenk, Tate Macdiarmid, Keaton Belsher, Sidney Nancarrow and Jaxson Bowerin.
The Cyclones put up 303 yards rushing in the first half and five yards total in the second half for a rushing total of 308 yards.
Passing the Cyclones managed 169 yards in the air total - 88 yards in the first half and 81 yards in the second half.
The Cyclones total offense yardage for the game was 472 yards.
Estevan managed 130 yards in rushing and 73 yards in the air for a total offensive yardage of 203 yards.
With the league’s regular season ending in a three way tie the playoff seeding is decided by points for and against.
Weyburn finishes first (based on points for and against) and will be hosting fourth place finisher Peacock Collegiate next Saturday. Peacock defeated the Swift Current Colts squad 43 - 27 in Swift Current to finish up the regular season in fourth place.
Yorkton finished second (on points for and against) and will host the Cyclones next weekend.
Asked about the prospect of going up against the powerhouse Yorkton team first off in Yorkton in the playoffs Belsher said either way the Cyclones will have to face them in the playoffs no matter what the seeding.
Possible team bus
Asked about the support the team has received this year from its fans and if there are plans to have a team bus to Yorkton, Belsher said it was something he would be looking into given the number of parents and other fans who drove to Estevan.
Belsher said he would look into the possibility of having a fan bus to Yorkton - something the team has done before - given the amount of support the team has and the likely large numbers of fans heading off to the game.
This story can be found at the MJ Independent website.
