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Kodiaks' title season ends with conference game loss

Cinderella’s glass slipper shattered for the Creighton Kodiaks last weekend, as the team dropped its conference playoff game Oct. 26 to the Birch Hills Marauders.
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Kodiaks players Austin McLean and Evan Madarash jump for joy after Madarash scored a touchdown early in the second half. - PHOTO BY ERIC WESTHAVER

Cinderella’s glass slipper shattered for the Creighton Kodiaks last weekend, as the team dropped its conference playoff game Oct. 26 to the Birch Hills Marauders.

While the Kodiaks did hold a short lead at the start of the game thanks to a Blake Alexander touchback, the Marauders came back and dictated play for much of the afternoon. By the time the final whistle blew, the scoreboard flickered out a 41-17 Birch Hills victory.

The Kodiaks defence did manage to literally tackle Birch Hills quarterback Austin Ravndahl out of his pants at one point, but the opposition QB got the last laugh, reeling off several long gains on the ground and both of his team’s first half touchdowns. Snowfall and sharp winds made things rough for players and spectators alike. Many of the fans crowding the bleachers brought blankets and parkas - others still chose to stay in their vehicles, lining the outside of the field and honking their horns with glee when the Kodiaks had a big play.

Austin McLean and Evan Madarash each managed to make the horns honk loud, banging in touchdowns for the home team, but the Birch Hills offence proved too much for the Kodiaks’ D, overpowering the Creighton club late.

A McLean touchdown with seconds to go in the second quarter made the game 14-9 Birch Hills at halftime. After another big gain by the visitors, Madarash marched in a TD and quarterback/kicker Blake Alexander booted in a two-point convert, cutting the lead to 20-17 Birch Hills. However, that was as good as it got for the home team. The Marauders hit the Kodiaks for three more touchdowns later in the day, adding in a touchback and a safety for good measure, while the Creighton offence was skunked.

The game not only ends the season for the Kodiaks team, but it signals the career end for six of the teams’ senior players - Madarash, Sarah Gardiner, Brandt Moore, Will Chiliak, Haiden Kanto-Lengyel and Keenan Campbell.

It was a successful year for the Kodiaks program. Despite losing once during the regular season to the Cumberland House Islanders, the Kodiaks ran the rest of the table, beating Pinehouse 67-12 and 86-12 and defeating Sandy Bay 43-9 at home. In the playoff round, the second-seeded Kodiaks faced Sandy Bay at home again and beat them again, winning 48-20 and punching their ticket to the Ralph Pilz Trophy game in Prince Albert for the northern Saskatchewan championship. While the Kodiaks trailed for much of the game, the team tied the game up in the fourth quarter and broke through with less than a minute to go to earn a 46-38 win.

Northern Saskatchewan football didn’t receive any luck from its other entrant in conference games last weekend. Cumberland House, who the Kodiaks defeated in the Ralph Pilz Trophy northern championship game a week before, faced a road date against the defending provincial champion Hafford Vikings. That game ended in a 69-0 steamrolling for the Vikings, who will play Watrous at home for a spot in the provincial final. Birch Hills will continue on and play a provincial semifinal game against Wynyard.

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