The still-undefeated Creighton Kodiaks are two-time Northern Saskatchewan Football League champions, but there is little time to savour the victory.
The Kodiaks downed the La Ronge Churchill Chargers 9-0 in Prince Albert last Saturday, Oct. 17 to hoist the Ralph Pilz Trophy for the second consecutive year.
“Our coaching played a huge factor in our win,” says Kodiaks starting running back Tyler Williamson. “The defence coaches study game play and had set up a defensive [strategy] that was unstoppable. [The Kodiaks] played fantastic, and our offence just kept getting first downs, keeping the clock always running and keeping [La Ronge’s] offence off the field as much as possible.”
While the score suggests yet another lopsided triumph by Creighton, head coach Ryan Karakochuk called the game “a battle.”
“Every yard out there was contested,” he says. “Both teams played absolutely to their maximum. It was hard hitting, it was very strategic between the coaches. It was kind of like a chess match out there, so it was fun.”
The Kodiaks took the lead late in the first quarter when linebacker Dean Rainville scored a field goal – an unusual ploy in six-man football, but one that paid off.
Creighton’s 3-0 lead held until wide receiver Chris Reynolds ran an impressive 40-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter to make it 9-0 and put the game out of reach for the Churchill Chargers.
It was a bright October afternoon at Prince Albert’s Max Clunie Field. Karakochuk estimated attendance at 300 spectators, with about 200 of them on Creighton’s side.
The Kodiaks are now preparing for their first-ever provincial playoff game this Saturday, Oct. 24 in Creighton against the Birch Hills Marauders.
“I feel nervous coming into the game, but nothing that won’t go away after the first down,” says Williamson. “We have lots of practice time this week to perfect a couple different areas, and I’m very confident on how me and the rest of the [team] will perform.”
Whereas the Kodiaks finished first in the North, or conference 5, the Marauders placed second in conference 4. Given that the North is new to the provincial playoffs, Creighton has never before faced a team outside of its conference.
Karakochuk has already contacted coaches from conference 4 about the Marauders. He also hoped to obtain game footage of the Marauders in action by mid-week.
He and his coaching team will look to dissect Birch Hills and plot a course on how to attack the visiting team offensively and defensively.
“We need to just worry about ourselves, practice hard this week, get our own game plan together and, you know what? We should be fine,” says Karakochuk.
If the Kodiaks defeat the Marauders, they will head to the provincial quarterfinal in Wynyard, Saskatchewan, on Saturday, Oct. 31. If they lose, their season is over, as every game moving forward is do-or-die.
“We’re truly just taking it one [game] at a time and we’ll see how far this ride can take us,” Karakochuk says.
Karakochuk hopes to see the Creighton football field packed with fans Saturday. If 200 Creighton fans can reach Prince Albert, he hopes to double that figure at home even before factoring in visiting fans who will travel from Birch Hills.
Karakochuk says the chance to host at least one more home game was likely in the back of the minds of his players last weekend, particularly the Grade 12s who will be graduating.
The Kodiaks are expected to enter Saturday’s game mostly healthy. There are a few “bumps and bruises,” Karakochuk says, but nothing some ice and rest can’t remedy.
Saturday’s game will begin at either 2 or 3 pm. A firm time was expected to be decided after The Reminder’s press deadline.
Pick up Friday’s Reminder for a special section on the Kodiaks, complete with information on the players.
The Reminder will continue to follow the Kodiaks in print and online at www.thereminder.ca.
