It might not have been a banner season for the Vanier Vikings in the South 5A Rural 12-Man Football League, but they came through with flying colours when it came down to their biggest game of the year.
The Vikings took a 14-7 lead out of the first half and would go on to a 36-21 victory over the Estevan Elecs in the Tier II semifinal on Oct. 22 at Gutheridge Field.
As a result, they’ll now face the Swift Current Colts in Swift Current in the Tier II final this coming Saturday.
As the score would indicate, things were close in the early going between Vanier and Estevan. Gabe Yasinski and Layefa Godwin each scored touchdowns for the Vikings in the first half, with Tyson Czernick picking up Estevan’s lone major.
Vanier came out firing after the break, though, and ended up putting together one of their most productive halves of the season.
Joel Marak hauled in touchdown passes of 30 and 41 yards while Yasinski had a 31-yard rushing major as the Vikings went on to the 15-point win.
Khalifa Eishen and Tristan Tober had Estevan’s second-half majors.
Vanier quarterback Grayson Hrenyk completed four of six passes for 126 yards and two interceptions. Tober was 11-for-28 for 154 yards and Dorian Sifton 5-for-6 for 37 yards behind centre for Estevan.
Yasinski led Vanier with six carries for 83 yards, Godwin had 12 carries for 59 yards and Hudson Tallon three for 64 yards. Marak led the air assault with three catches for 119 yards.
All told, the Vikings had 37 plays for 333 yards, easily their top offensive showing of the season.
Eishein led Estevan with 13 carries for 81 yards; Sifton had six for 29 yards. Truman Ciepliski and Vance Stovin caught three passes for 53 yards each to lead the Elecs through the air.
The news wasn’t as good for Moose Jaw teams in the main semifinals.
The defending provincial champion Weyburn Eagles took a 46-13 win over the Peacock Tornadoes in Weyburn, while the Yorkton Raiders defeated the Central Cyclones 60-35 in Yorkton.
That setsa the stage for a rematch of the 2021 league final, with Yorkton playing in Weyburn this Saturday afternoon.
The winner there advances to the provincial semifinal against the Regina champion, with that title game between Regina Sheldon Williams and Balgonie Greenall set for Thursday night.
The provincial final is slated for Friday, Nov. 11 at 2 p.m. in Saskatoon.
