Valkyries ride to blow-out title win
Of course, longtime head coach Jeff Yausie wanted to be there in person to lead his team into the league championship game.
Instead, a livestream feed to his hotel room at 3 a.m. in China on Saturday allowed him to watch his Saskatoon Valkyries set a franchise record for points scored, and decisively win the Western Women’s Canadian Football League championship.
The Valkyries handed the Edmonton Storm an 81-6 beat down at the game played in Lethbridge. Seven different players scored at least one of their team’s 10 touchdowns. The victory makes it five WWCFL championships in six seasons for the Valkyries, after losing in the semifinals last year, and sparked a gigantic late night team party in southern Alberta, and a smaller one in the early morning hours in China.
Yausie is currently one of the coaches for the Canadian national junior men’s team at the world championship in Harbin, China. But his marks are all over a Valkyries team he has coached for six years, and he was texting designated head coach Pat Barry throughout the game.
Barry has played or coached football since the 1980s, and can’t remember being a part of a higher scoring game for one team. The Valkyries surged to a 30-0 first quarter lead, and were up 54-0 at the half. They scored touchdowns on all four first quarter possessions — on drives of three, two, four and one plays.
“I’ve been around football for decades, and I’ve never seen anything like this,” Barry — normally the Valkyries defensive co-ordinator — said via telephone following the game. “We started subbing partway through the first quarter and our backups are talented, and they’re motivated.”
Running back Julene Friesen was named the game MVP as she racked up 142 yards on the ground on seven carries and two rushing touchdowns while adding a third TD on an 82 yard kickoff return. Alyssa Wiebe led all receivers with four catches for 111 yards and a TD. Reed Thorstad was 6 for 9 passing for 134 yards while Alex Eyolfson went 5 for 7 for 163 yards. Rienna Rueve sparkled on defence and had a pick-6 interception for a 39 yard touchdown.
Also scoring for Saskatchewan were Sam Matheson with two rushing TDs and her younger sister Kendal Matheson. Carly Dyck and Stacey Boldt each had touchdown receptions. Dyck also hit on two field goal attempts and converted all 10 touchdowns.
Edmonton quarterback Aria McGowan was just 9 for 26 passing but had a handful of longer completions. Saskatoon’s defence held Edmonton’s ground game to just 34 total yards rushing. The lone Storm touchdown was scored on a 95-yard kick return by Brenna Bouchard.
When asked how good a team he believes this Valkyrie squad is, Barry said, “It’s the best one I’ve been a part of the last three years I’ve been on this team. Jeff Yausie has mentioned he believes it’s the best Valkyries team he’s ever coached.
“When you look at our roster from 1 to 49, the commitment level and how hard they worked is pretty impressive.”
See Sports Report for game statistics.