The latest edition of the CanAm Bowl, a six-aside football game between select graduating players north and south of the border, took place in Rosetown on Tuesday night to cap off Canada Day.
Canada was unable to quell their southern foes, losing 70-52. The win stretched the Americans all time lead in the series to 22-5 and marked their thirteenth win in the last 14 games, Canada's last win coming in Wakaw back in 2019 by a score of 40-28.
As you can see above, both teams arrived in Rosetown for Monday night's banquet to start off the CanAm Bowl festivities.
It was locally catered as teams and their families gathered together before Tuesday's game. On stage as MC and guest speaker for the night were Josh and Daniel Wiebe, RCHS alumni, Daniel recently coming off training camp with the Saskatchewan Roughriders where he impressed as an eighth-round draft pick.
(Photo Gallery Below)
With freshly graduated players on both sides, the Canadian team was made up of players from Saskatchewan and Alberta, while Team USA had players from Wyoming, Texas, and Montana.
One of the top players on offense for Team Canada was Rosetown Central High School's own Dami Igbekoyi who had five touchdowns, three rushing, and two coming off kick returns.
While it wasn't enough to come out on top with the win, Igbekoyi still had high spirits after the game.
"We went out hard this weekend, the coaches held us to a high standard, and I think (when that happens) we play to that standard." he said as practice makes perfect.
Igbekoyi talked about the game putting an end to his high school career.
"Really blessed to be part of this opportunity. A lot of players don't get to, so just to be picked for this, and play on this field today is an honour."
His final football memories included some time on the defensive side.
"Quarterback kept coming up on our two d-linemen, so coach said make sure he doesn't run through that gap." said the speedy Igbekoyi.
It's not easy for a group to come together and form a true 'team' in such a short period of time. This year's unit assembled for Team Canada quickly became a tight-knit group, and Igbekoyi gave thanks to his teammates for ending the year in such a great way.
"Anything that happened today I want to thank my teammates." he finished.
Team Canada
- Carter Harrod, Millwoods, Alberta
- Ethan Lizotte, Wakaw, SK
- Griffin Leblanc, Wakaw, SK
- Jaxon Ermel, Cupar, SK
- Zak Tkachuk, Millwoods Christian, Alberta
- Kamden Shewchuk, Shellbrook, SK
- Cole Chapman, Breton, Alberta
- Ashton Mohr, Cupar, SK
- Burke Bartkoa, Winston, SK
- Daxen Wilinski, Elrose, SK
- Dami Igbekoyi, Rosetown, SK
- Cailean Fehr, Rosetown, SK
- Cade Armstrong, Winston, Sask.
- Kaleb Lycan, Creighton, Sask.
- Matthew Zdunich, Davidson, SK
- Clark Goebel, Clavet, Sask.
- Ryan Morrison, Clavet, Sask.
- Lane Steen, Hanley, Sask.
- Michael Bouclin, Elrose, SK
Coaches: Bob Mayo, Lemberg, SK; Rod Harrod, Millwoods Christian, Alberta; Ryan Barnstable, Hafford, SK; Graham Montreuil, Rosetown, SK.; Justin Haugen, Rosetown, SK.
Centerville, Montana native and USA quarterback Luke Kelley was the driving force behind the Amercian victory.
Speaking with Kelley postgame he talked about adjusting to the Canadian game. The six-aside rules are a bit different south of the border and the mobile QB Kelley took full advantage.
"Adjustments on offense, putting in new formations on the fly, just doing what's working." he said. "In Montana, and I think everywhere that's 6-man in America, you have to activate the QB in order to run. Here you can just snap it, and they can run, and that's really a gamechanger being able to do that out of the backfield and still throw the ball. It's amazing and leads to big plays."
Kelly said the change to 3-down-football wasn't as hard to adjust to as other Canadian rules.
"The stiff arm was a big one for me... that's my go-to move, and you can't do that here."
Barely remembering a trip to Canada as a child, Kelley enjoyed his first cognizant trip north of the border, and says he'd definitely come back.
"Big hunter, big fisher. Lots of that up here so I would definitely come back for that in the future." said Kelley who is now bound to play college football for Montana Tech of the NAIA.
Team USA
- Bridger Cozzens, Snake River, Wyoming
- Joe Bassett, Burlington, Wyoming
- Anthony Kling, Pawnee City, Nebraska
- Kolter Cranson, Branson/Kim, Colorado
- Chason Turner, Cheyenne Wells, Colorado
- Nate Nelson, Chester-Joplin-Inverness
- Luke Kelley, Centerville
- Cohen Rohde, Sumner Eddyville Miller, Nebraska
- Maddox Jones, Sumner Eddyville Miller, Nebraska
- Dylan Young, Hay Springs, Nebraska
- Braden Steele, Borden County, Texas
- Ethan Kauffman, Whiteface, Texas
- Ayden Salazar, Jayton, Texas
- Gavin Wilbanks, Oakwood, Texas
- Jeremiah Rendon, Whiteface, Texas
- Cameron Grant, Three Way, Texas
Coaches: Scott Reed, Farson, Wyoming; Thomas Tritz; Coolidge, Texas; Sam Weeldreyer, Baggs, Wyoming; Zeb Hagen, Meeteetsee, Wyoming
The CanAm Bowl trades locations every year, last year's game taking place in Meeteetse, Wyoming. Rosetown joins Outlook LCBI (1999), Eatonia (2000), Outlook (2004,2013), Biggar (2012), and Kerrobert (2017,2018) on the list of West Central towns to host the game.