Carlton captures third straight NSFL title

Carlton opened the scoring when quarterback Colm Phillips ran the ball from two yards out at the end of the first quarter. The Vikings were forced to punt on the ensuing possession to start the second, and returner Cooper Hemingway turned on the jets and broke a few tackles on his way to the endzone to make it 14-0 Crusaders.

Later, in the second half, Phillips connected with Sawyer Elphinstone for a massive gain to get deep into the redzone. Three plays later, Phillips took the ball himself and went untouched on his way into the endzone for his second touchdown of the game to put Carlton up 21-0.

Then, things began to click offensively for the Vikings as quarterback Jacob Bjerkness launched a long pass and connected with Grady Charbin, who ran it in for their first points of the afternoon and made it 21-7 with 6:11 to play in the quarter.

Fast forward to the start of the fourth and Phillips completed the hat trick with his third rushing touchdown of the contest.

With 2:47 to go, Bjerkness went deep and found Matthew French, who ran nearly the whole length of the field before being tracked down on the six-yard line. The Vikings did not score on the drive.

On the following drive, Carlton’s Bladen Dogniez took the ball and ran around the endzone chewing up nearly 45 seconds on the clock before running out the back of the endzone to concede a safety, giving North Battleford two points and making it 28-9.

By then, it was too late for the Vikings as the Crusaders sailed to their third NSFL championship.

Carlton now advances onto the provincial bracket and will face the Bishop James Mahoney (BJM) Saints in the semifinals at Max Clunie Field on Nov. 7. The Saints won the Saskatoon league on Friday night with a last minute 23-22 win over the Aden Bowman Bears.

BJM and Carlton faced off in Prince Albert earlier in the season for an exhibition match back on Sept. 18, which saw the Saints dominate in a 31-6 showing. That game was the first one of the season for the Crusaders, and Strachan believes next weekend will be a much different ball game.

“They were tough and ran the ball right at us. I’m sure that we can expect more of that,” he recalled. “At that point in the year, they played four games and that was our first. I feel like we’re in a little better space and I’m looking forward to that rematch next week.”

The winner of BJM and Carlton will advance to the 5A Football Provincial Final, where they will meet either the Central Cyclones from Moose Jaw or the Sheldon Williams Spartans from Regina.

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loganc.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com

by Logan Lehmann

Carlton captures third straight NSFL title

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