Central, Peacock advance to football semifinals

The Central Cyclones and Peacock Tornadoes both advanced to the Moose Jaw High School Football League semifinals on Saturday. How they got there couldn’t have been more different.

The Cyclones found themselves in an epic defensive battle with the Vanier Vikings, eventually taking a 2-0 victory; the Tornadoes used an effective and consistent run game to take a 2715 win over the Weyburn Eagles. Both games were in cold and windy conditions at Gutheridge Field.

All the scoring in the first semifinal came early in the second quarter when Vanier conceded a safety. From that point on it was high-tension defensive football that saw Central escape the massive upset – a Houdini act that even saw Vanier have a touchdown called back due to a penalty. Ryan Vincent led Central with 18 carries for 91 yards; Ethan Johnson was 7-for-16 passing for 79 yards. Vanier managed only 55 yards of total offence, including 19 carries for mi- nus-11 yards rushing. Phillip O’Reilly had two catches for 27 yards; Tyler Lorenz was 7-for-15 passing for 66 yards.

The other quarter-final saw Peacock quarterback Dallas Lister put together touchdown runs of nine and 20 yards in the second quarter as the Tornadoes built a 14-0 lead by halftime. Kyle Yamniuk and Kayde Shymko added majors in the second half as the Torna- does took the comfortable win. Parker Mantei had pass-and-run touchdowns of seven and 20 yards for Weyburn.

Lister finished the game with 13 carries for 96 yards while Shymko ran 15 times for 90 yards. Lister was 9-for14 passing for 91 yards; Shymko had three catches for 78 yards. Mantei led the Eagles offence with five catches for 75 yards as the Tornadoes defence held Weyburn to 144 yards of total offence.

The other quarter-final saw Swift Current take a 69-22 win over the Estevan Elecs in Swift Current.

The undefeated Yorkton Raiders received a first-round bye.

The MJHSFL semifinals take place on Oct. 20.