Rivalry continues as Riot top Valkyries
The Saskatoon Valkyries and Regina Riot have developed a fierce provincial women’s football rivalry like no other. What’s surprising is that neither team has lost a game to any other opponent, besides each other.
The teams are a combined 42-0 against all league and playoff interprovincial competition since the Western Women’s Canadian Football League was formed seven years ago.
That’s 23 wins for the Valkyries against Manitoba and Alberta opponents, including five championships. The Riot, meanwhile, are 19-0 against the same competition, with a league title in 2015.
Head-to-head, the Valkyries hold a decided 14-5 edge in their all-time record, but the Riot have staged a recent surge, winning four of the last six encounters — including Saturday’s 16-0 win at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.
In this latest clash of titans, the Riot accomplished a first — a shutout of the Valkyries. The 16-0 setback was the first time the Valkyries had been held to less than seven points in any game, something they are used to inflicting on opponents quite regularly, doing so 22 times themselves.
“The rivalry is just fantastic,” said Riot rookie head coach Olivier Eddie. “It really allows us to be at our best. I think when you talk about sports and you talk about competing, the moment you play someone who you believe is equal or that any given day can beat you or that you can beat, that gets the best out of everyone.”
When asked if she gears up a little harder to face the Riot, Valkyries sixth-year starting linebacker/defensive lineman Denise Kolosky didn’t hesitate, saying, “Yes! Of course you do!
“It’s your rival, so you want to be better. You do everything 10 times better than you did before because you’re like, this is going to be such a good game. And you want to give your crowd a good show — a good fight.”
Despite the 16-0 score, the game on Saturday was a good show, with Regina building a 10-0 first half lead following a Morgan Turner field goal and a Rachelle Smith converted touchdown.
The turning point may have occurred in the third quarter, when the Valkyries held the Riot to a twoand-out deep in their own territory, but fumbled the ensuing punt. The Riot went on a lengthy drive, capped off by a Mallory Starkey major.
“We had a 15-play drive (and) we killed the entire clock when the wind was against us,” said Eddie. “That drive coming out in the second half really helped us kind of solidify where we stood and keep our confidence up, even though we weren’t scoring touchdowns.”
Missed opportunities against a relentless Riot defence came back to haunt the Valkyries.
“We made some mistakes, we took some penalties that hurt us,” said Valkyries head coach Pat Barry. “A couple fumbles, and dropped a touchdown. I guess the good thing is, a lot of (the mistakes) are correctable.”
The two teams renew their rivalry in Regina on Sunday at 7:30 p.m.
You do everything 10 times better than you did before because you’re like, this is going to be such a good game.