Cyclones Win Friday Night Lights Fog Bowl Against The Vikings

Story and Photos By Robert Thomas

It may have been a little bit damp, chilly and even had fog for a time rolling across the field but none of that seemed to deter the Central Cyclones as they defeated the Vanier Vikings 47 - 6 under the lights in South 5A 12 Man Football League on Friday evening.

In a rare night game the Central squad used their size and strength to overpower the Vanier team and bring home the victory.

Central’s Keaton Belsher scored a touchdown within its first set of downs, two plays, to give the Cyclones an early lead.

Vanier's Layefa Godwin tries to get around Central's Braden Craig - MJ Independent photo

The Cyclones took a firm grip in the local high school football matchup and from there never looked back despite more than a couple of mental lapses that ended up costing the Cyclones penalty yards at key points of the game.

Central ended up taking seven penalties for 80 yards lost much to the chagrin of head coach Colin Belsher.

And although they did not need it a long running gain that ended up as touchdown was called back due to an illegal block.

The Cyclones key in the entire game was to use their tank Javin Boynton to carry the ball eight times for 138 yards. Boynton would rush for three touchdowns - two in the first half and one in the second half of the game.

Central's Jake Wison tries to shake off the flying tackle of Joel Marak - MJ Independent photo

Jake Wilson would score a late second half touchdown for the Cyclones.

The Cyclones defense added four points when the Vikings took two safeties.

The Vikings did manage to score a touchdown in a massive run from the team’s utility player Joel Marak. The game would see Marak play both defensive and offensive positions including quarterback for the Vikings.

The Vikings employed a strategy of two quarterbacks - the Grade 12 student Marak and the Grade 9 student Grayson Hrenyk. Marak and Hrenyk would swap out rapidly which often left the Cyclones guessing what type of play to look for depending on what player took the snap.

Cyclones Jaxson Bowerin (right) breaks up a pass to Vikings Gabe Yasinski

A standout defensive play was Cyclones Jaxson Bowerin managed to prevent a long reception play through his coverage on the Vikings Gabe Yasinski.

The play may well have prevented a Vikings’ touchdown had it been successful.

On the defensive side the Vikings had their moments such as blocking a punt and a convert attempt.

Additionally the Vikings had a timely interception within five yards of their goal line snuffing out excellent field position and a likely Cyclones touchdown.

Hudson Tallon manages to get up in the air and block a Cyclones convert attempt - MJ Independent photo

COACHES COMMENTS

Central Cyclones head coach Colin Belsher said playing a night game at Elks Field under the lights brought back memories to many of Central’s players.

“It was a lot of fun. I talked to the kids before the game and a lot of kids grew up playing on this field. You know it is the first Friday Night Lights game here against a Moose Jaw opponent so it was nostalgic for a lot of kids getting back to their roots and playing on the field,” Belsher said, adding “growing up playing Elks Minor (Football) and getting back and playing as big kids now and playing a lot of friends on the other side it was a lot of fun.”

Penalties were tough on the Cyclones.

“:I thought we didn’t play well in terms of the mental aspect of it. We had a lot of penalties. A lot of holding calls. A lot of things that you can really avoid. Those are personal mistakes. I thought once we were rolling we looked really good. I thought my quarterback played really well, the O (Offensive) Line played well, my receivers played well. You know it seemed once we just started to get things going we would shoot ourselves in the foot with a penalty,” he said.

Vikings Joel Marak (right), while playing quarterback runs out from the fog in an attempt to elude Cyclones Carter Hulgan - MJ Independent photo

Belsher had respect for his opponents despite the lop-sided score.

“Hats off to Vanier. They are a younger team and they fought as they do. They have a good coaching staff there and Gotts (Vanier Head Coach Ryan Gottselig) gets them going and they are just a young team.”

Asked about Vanier’s strategy of putting out and playing two quarterbacks Belsher was congratulatory on the strategy.

“It is kind of funny their second quarterback (Grayson Hrenyk) is a friend of my son and they are both in Grade Nine. To see a Grade Nine in there and have the opportunity to play quarterback is pretty cool,” he said, adding “he was throwing some really good balls. I was really impressed. Grade Nine with no football background either. I think Gottselig has some good kids there and the sky is the limit moving forward.”

“But we have a lot of good kids at our school to. We are pretty young. We are only sitting at eight Grade Twelves. So a lot of our talent outside of our Grade Twelves is a couple of years younger and I think the younger guys had a lot of success tonight and we are just excited to keep rolling.”

Cyclones quarterback Brody Ansell gets ready to throw the ball through a light fog as Vikings Saxton Metz closes in - MJ Independent photo

Central moved to more of a combined running and passing effort - up until now the majority of the team’s offensive efforts has been largely a running based offense.

“We are just trying to balance things out. We have a horse in the back you know with Javin (Boynton) there and our offensive lines is one of our strengths so we need we can lean on that when we need to. But we really have got to get our passing game going because when you get into a tight game you need both sides to work,” Belsher said.

Belsher said for himself personally playing under the lights at Elks Field was no different than playing in daylight as he is still coaching his younger son in Elk’s Minor Football but it was “cool to be a part of this with my other kid at Central.”

Viking Layefa Godwin is tackled - MJ Independent photo

Asked which he preferred Friday night play or Saturday afternoon play given the experience of high school football in the United States, where for decades Friday night games are a tradition, Belsher said he preferred Saturday as it gave the team an additional day of practice to prepare.

“From a work perspective I prefer Saturday as it gives you another day to prepare. But the night game gives you a whole different feel all together. The kids get really excited and the fans come out. It is just a different feel all together,” he said.

“It was what we were talking about when it comes to the whole Friday Night Lights thing that is what they do in the States. They shut down entire towns and get ready for Friday Night Lights. I don’t think we could shut down Moose Jaw for tonight’s game but yeah there was a lot of support.”

Vikings Hudson Tallon (left) tries to out run the tackle of Cyclone's Ethan Johnson - MJ Independent photo

Vanier Vikings head coach Ryan Gottselig was philosophical about the loss pointing out the team’s continual improved play.

“It was alright I guess other than getting scored on in the first play. Beside from that we came out and battled. They are very good. They are very skilled. They are very well coached. Our kids hung with them alright,” Gottselig said.

Asked about the moments where Vanier’s play caused problems for the Cyclone’s he said it was there.

“Yeah I know we caused three or four turnovers which is awesome for our kids…they have a ton of athletes and they are hard to hang with. Yeah our kids they played great. They worked hard.”

It was a happy Central Cyclone's sideline in the fourth quarter - MJ Independent photo

Asked about the strategy of running two quarterbacks on the field - often at the same time - Gottselig saw it as just part of the game plan that worked out.

“We had our young kid Grayson (Hrenyk) in there. First time playing QB really and I thought he played really well. Throwing the ball out there to spots. And Joel Marak he always gives us 110 per cent. That kid works harder than anybody. He is kind of our utility guy. He will paly any position. Anywhere we need him he will go and make plays.”

Asked for comment about

“We re getting there. You know week after week we are getting better week after week. Guys are just a little bit more experienced and playing better. We re getting there.”

Cyclones Jaxson Bowerin breaks past the defensive line - MJ Independent photo

The Vikings had their moments in the defensive role stopping the Cyclones with an interception that if caught was a sure touchdown as well as blocking a convert and a pass.

“As I said we are getting better every week. On to Estevan and that should be a good matchup for us. And so we will prepare for that one.”

MJ Independent asked about the feeling to score a touchdown against the tough Cyclones squad - on the massive run by Joel Marak - Gottselig said it ws also a sign of the team improving.

“Our offense is starting to get better and we are playing a lot better lately.”

Getting better and progressing is Vanier’s goal. They have only three seniors on the team.

“That is our goal to get better. We are a very, very young team. We challenge them every week and we try to be better than the last week. I do think we are improving every week.”

Cyclones quarterback Brodie Ansell about to release a pass attempt - MJ Independent photo

With the win the Cyclones move to a 3 - 1 record and the Vikings move to 0 - 4 in the season standings.

Next Local Games

Saturday October 1st 1:00 PM Gutheridge Field Peacock versus Yorkton

Saturday October 1st 3:15 PM Gutheridge Field Vanier versus Estevan

Central has the bye next week