Provincial football championships in a handful of different conferences and leagues were the talk of the province as teams took to the fields in search of that proverbial gridiron glory on Saturday, November 10.
The cold weather didn’t deter anyone from playing their absolute best as teams vied for the gold, and it made for a unique image in some cases as parents and fans bundled together in thick coats and headwear to cheer on their respective teams. It made for a humorous ‘Only in Saskatchewan’ moment to see people dressed in their winter best to see the year end for a game that is typically played in brisk-but-still-snowless conditions.
Two local teams made the cut and found themselves playing for a provincial title; the Hanley Sabers in 1A 6-Man action, and the Delisle Rebels in 2A 9-Man action.
In Hanley, the Sabers played host against the Hafford Vikings, and it was evident quite soon that the Vikings had come to snatch a decisive win to end their football season as they racked up touchdown after touchdown. It was only near the end of the game that the Sabers got on the board, but by then it was far too late. Taking the 1A 6-Man Provincial Championship were the Hafford Vikings at a commanding score of 64-8. Presenting each team with their respective medals was SHSAA Executive Director Lyle McKellar, who is also a former long-time teacher at Outlook High School.
En route to the provincial final, the Vikings defeated the likes of Outlook’s own LCBI in the quarter finals and Southey in the semi final, while the Sabers defeated Kerrobert in the quarter finals and Carrot River in the semi final.
In Delisle, the Rebels played host to the Indian Head Broncs, and it wasn’t long until the Rebels took the lead, undoubtedly helped by their hometown faithful. In the end, despite a solid effort by the Broncs, Delisle defeated Indian Head to claim the 2A 9-Man Provincial Championship at a score of 43-20.
En route to the provincial final, Delisle defeated Melville in the quarter finals and Nipawin in the semi finals, while the Broncs defeated Tisdale in the quarter finals and Foam Lake in the semi finals.
