In what can only be described as a breathtaking matchup from start to finish, the HCI Mohawk football squad put their dreams of advancing in provincial play on the line against the Tisdale Tornadoes on Saturday. The Mohawks rolled through their season with an undefeated 6-0 record, while Tisdale came into the quarter final matchup with a 4-2 record, having been bested only by Melfort in conference play.
The game opened with strong defensive play on both sides and no scoring in the first quarter. In the opening of the second quarter, the Tornadoes found their footing and ran it into the endzone for the first score.
A roughing call backed the Mohawks up to their 19-yard line, and Tisdale QB hung on to the ball to cross the plane for a 14-0 lead. However, the Mohawks showed what they were capable of when speedster Barrett Smith returned the ensuing kick for a long run and a touchdown, cutting the Tornadoes lead to 7.
Subsequently, the Tornadoes were pinned back on their 10-yard line when Mohawks’ Nathan Bunko deftly snapped up a fumble, setting the Mohawks up at first and goal. In turn, that set up Preston McAvany, on one of his numerous carries, for the tying touchdown with 5 minutes left in the half. Then the Mohawks took to the air with a beautiful connect from QB Ben Hoppe to Smith for another TD. Despite a couple hurry up plays and air-out attempts, the score remained 21-14 in favour of the Mohawks at the half.
The drama kept on coming in the second half as the Mohawks flipped the script on Tisdale. Liam Reineke helped move the ball into position for Hoppe to feed him the ball once again for a Mohawk touchdown. An exchange of downs and penalties ensued, and the Tornadoes, courtesy of a reception by Layne Guest, found themselves on the Mohawk four-yard line. The Mohawk defense stood strong, but after a penalty returned the ball to Tisdale, QB Damon Junk held on to cut the lead to one major.
The battle continued into the final quarter with both squads threatening, but both defensive lines squashing opportunities. Eventually, Tornadoes’ Junk went skyward with a connector to Ethan Mamer to put the score level again at 28-all and 6 minutes remaining.
McAvany and crew moved the ball up, but a fumble recovery by Tisdale snuffed the drive. Tisdale found themselves on the doorstep again, but the Mohawk defense denied a major, leaving Tisdale with a field goal and a three-point edge. On the return engagement, QB Hoppe and his offensive blockers took matters into their own hands with a marathon run into the end zone to regain the lead, 35-31.
Undaunted Tisdale once again went the air route to Ethan Mamer to regain the 3-point edge and put the crowd even closer to the edge of their seats. The Mohawks pushed up the field, advancing to the red zone, but were denied entry, resulting in a turnover on downs and the Tornadoes taking over in their own end zone.
With the seconds dying down, the Tornadoes conceded a safety and a single point advantage. The Mohawks were left with a final shot at 2.6 seconds, but the Tornadoes covered the receiving routes leaving Hoppe no options, and when the snow settled, the Tornadoes emerged victorious by the narrowest possible margin.
The heartstopper of a contest was a tough season ender for the Mohawks, but a gracious coach Eric Anderson credited everyone involved for what was a stellar season.
“We had a solid group this year, they worked very hard all year long, they improved all the way through. We were playing good football today, but so was Tisdale, and that’s what you run into when you get to playoffs. All the Grade 12 guys, it’s not the way they wanted the season to end, none of us wanted that, but they played their hearts out, they left everything they had out there and that’s all we can every ask.”
Coach Anderson passed along thanks to the parents and all the supporters that contributed to the success of the Mohawk campaign.