The Creighton Kodiaks are moving on to the Northern Saskatchewan Football League final after their 59-34 win over Cumberland House in the East final on Monday.
A crew removed snow from the light snowfall the previous night as the Kodiaks welcomed back the Cumberland House Islanders for the East Division final.
It was a quick start for the Kodiaks as they were up 16-0 early on with two touchdowns and two kicking conversions to set the pace.
“This was one of the better games they have played,” said coach Jason Straile. “I know we’ve had big spreads before, but this one I was most impressed with because they played from start to finish. I think this was the best technical game they had played.”
Kodiaks middle linebacker Dean Rainville was pleased with the performance from the chilly Monday afternoon game.
“I thought the offence played [really] well,” said Rainville.
“That catch by Josh Nowlin was pretty sweet,” he said, referring to an interception. “The defence played pretty strong. We let some through that we should have got, but [it was a good game].”
Monday’s action left the Kodiaks undefeated with a record of 6-0 and earned them the title of East Division champions.
Creighton will now advance to the league final in Prince Albert as they look to the undefeated Pinehouse Lakers of the West Division.
“I’m not sure that this has happened yet in [the league] where two undefeated teams are going up against each other for the title,” said Straile. “It’s going to be a very good game.”
The Kodiaks and Lakers will kick off on Saturday at 1:30 pm in Prince Albert, as both teams will strive to maintain a perfect record.
“From what I’ve heard, they are very similar to us,” said Straile. “They have guys that can run, pass, catch and hit. I think it’s going to be a test for both teams.”
The Kodiaks are eager to get to Prince Albert and face the Lakers, but have a few days of practice first to prepare.
“I think it has been the talk since week three when people were talking about Pinehouse and we were [also] doing really well,” Straile said. “We’re pretty excited about it.”
To help prepare, the Kodiaks will review game footage of the Lakers. The players will also go through a “few good practices” this week ahead of the big game.
“We’ve been practicing six months for this,” said Straile “They are ready for it. It’s just keeping focus at this point.”
“I’m pumped,” said Rainville, adding that he and the rest of the team are “excited” to take on the Lakers in the final.
Rainville knows the Kodiaks face their greatest challenge of the season, but hope to keep control of the game.
“We have to contain them and keep everyone low,” he said. “We can’t get too frustrated if we’re down and we can’t get too cocky if we’re up.”
Rainville hopes, for himself and his team, to “do our best and try hard.”
With an undefeated record, the Kodiaks have proven themselves to be formidable opponents in their first season of six-man football with the Northern Saskatchewan Football League.
“We work together,” said Rainville.
“When one person follows the ball, there’s always another three people behind him on defence. On offence, when we peel to one side they all follow.”
From a coach’s standpoint, Straile says the players knowing their position has been key.
One strength is “guys knowing where they should be and when they should be there and adapting when the offence moved, and the defence knowing what to do,” he said. “When our offence is lining up, they are able to read what the defence is going to do. They are getting so much better at reading the play and then reacting rather than being so structured that we miss tackles, we don’t know where we are or our offence is not in the right position or blocking the right person.”
Straile says the biggest improvement on the field has come from the players “reading and reacting” to the plays happening at an instant.
The Kodiaks have a lot on the line this weekend as they hope to finish their inaugural football season undefeated.
Going into Monday’s game, Straile says he was nervous as not only had the Kodiaks improved, but so too had the Islanders.
“It’s more than I could have expected when we started this whole thing,” said Straile. “I never could have dreamed that we would have done as well as we have. Even going into [Monday’s] game I was a little nervous about it because we were playing at home and I knew Cumberland House would be better. I was a little nervous going in, but the boys played their game.”
The proud coach continues to be surprised by the Kodiaks.
“The dedication they have shown and the hard work [is amazing],” Straile said. “Winning the East final is great, but we’re not done our work. We still have another game.”
The Kodiaks coaching staff has preached to the team to “take it one game at a time.”
The Kodiaks will travel to Prince Albert on Friday to prepare for their game on Saturday against the Pinehouse Lakers.
