Vanier picks up first win of season

A couple of big plays for touchdowns in the first quarter and a goal line stand in the game’s final minute proved to be the difference as the Vanier Vikings picked up their first win of the Moose Jaw High School Football League season on Saturday at Gutheridge Field.

Tyler Lorenz had a 62-yard run three minutes into the game and Cole Coroy a 58-yard pass-and-run with 4:35 remaining in the first quarter as Vanier went on to a 17-15 win over the Weyburn Eagles..

“It feels awesome,” Coroy said when asked about the win, which came after four straight losses to open the season. The Vikings didn’t get off to the best of starts, as Weyburn’s Chase Fillmore scored on a 14-yard run to cap their first drive of the game and take the early lead. Vanier followed with their two big plays, though, and there the score remained until Weyburn quarterback Brett Bowler scored on an eight-yard run early in the third quarter to pull the Eagles within a field goal. A Vanier safety with 40 seconds left in the quarter turned it into a four-point game and set the stage for a frantic finish.

Weyburn took over possession just after the three-minute warning and proceeded to run the same off-tackle play five times in a row to get the ball inside the Vanier 10. There, the Vikings defence finally stiffened and took down Bowler on third and goal with 50 seconds remaining to secure the victory.

Vanier coach Ryan Gottselig said, “To be able to make the play and get the stop down there when we needed to was huge. The execution needs to be better, but we’ll take the win.”

Lorenz finished the game with 23 carries for 45 yards total, including a morass of runs for lost yardage in the second half, while also going five-for-six passing for 111 yards. Coroy finished the game with three catches to 86 yards.

Vanier improved to 1-4 with the win and face Peacock in their final regular season game on Oct. 9. Weyburn fell to 1-3 and take on the Tornadoes in their next game on Oct. 4.