His team had just suffered its first-ever defeat, a season-ending heartbreaker that could have gone either way.
But Tyler Williamson, starting running back for the Creighton Kodiaks, wasn’t about to marinate in frustration and disappointment.
“There’s not much to be upset about,” he said Monday, two days after Creighton’s 63-48 loss to the Birch Hill Marauders. “We had a great season of football, capturing the northern Saskatchewan football title. But we left it all out on the field, and that’s all we could do. I’m proud of how we played.”
Williamson wasn’t alone in feeling that way. Although the Kodiaks were on the wrong end of a provincial playoff game last Saturday, Oct. 24, the players and coaches left the field with their heads held high.
“Full credit to [the Marauders], but at the same time we gave them everything they could handle,” said Kodiaks head coach Ryan Karakochuk.
“I’m definitely not disappointed. We won the North again for the second straight year. We built football in Creighton for future kids and we built some fine young men in our Grade 12s.”
Saturday’s game was historic for Creighton in that it marked the community’s first time playing in – and hosting – a high school football playoff game at the provincial level.
The community responded in a big way, with 300-plus spectators in attendance at the Creighton soccer / football field. Well-bundled fans on the bleachers came prepared for the late-October weather, while others stuck to the warmth of their vehicles.
On the field, Creighton drew first blood, grabbing an 8-0 lead. They would regain the lead twice more in the first half before Birch Hills stepped things up in the second half.
Though the Kodiaks were fresh off winning their second straight Northern Saskatchewan Football League title, the Marauders were considered the favourites, their players more experienced and their football program more entrenched.
Kodiaks wide receiver Chris Reynolds said the loss was initially a disappointment given that this is his final year at Creighton Community School.
“But we did accomplish a lot this season,” he said, adding that he is grateful for the chance to have played high school football.
The Kodiaks are now 12-1 across their two seasons of existence. When they hit the field next fall, they will be without some of their top talent, as a dozen players graduate in June.
Karakochuk doesn’t sugarcoat what the loss of those players will mean to the team, but at the same time he’s excited to develop younger players.
“We leave a little legacy with those kids [who are graduating] and now we build a new program with those kids coming up,” he said, adding that 10 “pretty strong” players are eligible to return and rookies have learned from the departing Grade 12s.
Williamson, the outgoing running back, sees a lot of potential in the club going forward.
“One of our offensive coaches worked hard all season, working with our second-string offence line, and they sure are looking good,” he said. “I have no doubt they will put on a great showing next year. [As] for our defensive line, I think they will do a great job as well. They have a couple key returning players next year, and they will be one year stronger. I’m looking forward to watching their season.”
Reynolds, the departing wide receiver, is also optimistic.
“We have great coaching and an amazing program with a lot of support from the community,” he said. “We created a lot of interest for football in our school and I believe a lot of players want to strive for what we have done. So I think they will do fine next year.”
The Kodiaks’ loss means all three northern teams that made the provincial playoffs are out of the picture. La Ronge lost 59-10 to Rosthern while Cumberland House went down 49-20 to
Carrot River.
As the Kodiaks look to next season, Williamson and Reynolds are reflecting on their two seasons with the club.
“I made a lot of great memories and made a lot of great friendships with my teammates,” Williamson said. “I learned so much from my coaches and maybe some of that stuff I can pass on to the up-and-coming players. I just hope the new players will have as much fun as me and the other Grade 12s had. It’s bittersweet leaving the team, sad that it’s over, but excited to see what’s next.”
Reynolds called his two seasons with the Kodiaks “unbelievable.”
“I never thought we would accomplish this much,” he said. “Playing with these guys has [been] a blast. We really worked together as a team and had fun doing it. It has been rewarding to me and I am going to really
miss it.”
