Greenall wins first Stewart Conference 3A title

The Greenall Griffins surprised themselves Monday at Mosaic Stadium.

The Griffins beat the Johnson Wildcats 21-12 to capture the Regina Intercollegiate Football League’s Stewart Conference (3A) championship.

The Balgonie-based team earned its first Stewart Conference title despite losing several players to graduation after the 2016 season.

“I didn’t think our team was going to be this good and we won it all,’’ said Griffins tailback Silas Funk.

“All of our Grade 12s left and we have a very young team.’’

Head coach Cory Lechner didn’t know what to expect from the Griffins when the 2017 season kicked off.

“We didn’t have a whole lot of leaders, but we had kids that just played as a unit,’’ Lechner said. “We went a long way because of that.’’

Funk and Greenall quarterback Carter Zinger were among the Grade 11s who stepped up Monday. Funk’s 93-yard touchdown run with 3:46 remaining in the fourth quarter helped seal the win. Jordan Giambattista’s convert gave the Griffins a 20-12 lead.

“That (run) meant everything for us,’’ said Zinger, who scored on a one-yard run and added a rouge. “With only four minutes on the clock we knew that it was over.’’

Funk’s touchdown came one play after Giambattista snuffed out a Wildcats drive with an interception on Balgonie’s 17-yard line.

“(The interception) was awesome because I made a really bad play on the one before that,’’ said Giambattista, who kicked a 34-yard field goal and converted both touchdowns. “I knew that I had to make up for it. It was also the pressure from the defensive line that got us there.’’

Sadik Sadik (four-yard run) and Brendan Young (31-yard fumble return) scored touchdowns for the Wildcats.

It has been a long road for the Griffins to the Stewart Conference title.

Greenall won the 2005 Moose Jaw High School Football League (3A) championship, but was looking for stronger competition. In 2008, the Griffins were granted entry into the RIFL’s Schwann Conference (4A).

The Griffins spent four challenging years in the Schwann Conference — winning a total of three games — before moving into the RIFL’s 3A loop.

“It was tough digging our program out of the ashes of 4A,’’ Lechner said.

“It took us a long time and we finally got back here. The boys are happy and we’re still going.’’

The Griffins advanced to Saturday’s Saskatchewan High Schools Athletic Association 3A regional playoff against the Yorkton Raiders (1 p.m., Leibel Field).

The LeBoldus Golden Suns are to meet the Campbell Tartans in the Schwann Conference final on Friday, 6 p.m., at Mosaic Stadium.