MOOSEJAWTODAY.COM -- The Central Cyclones had shown they’re a dangerous team through the air in their previous two South Rural Football League games, but they took it to another level in Swift Current on Friday evening.
Quarterback Wyatt Craik had over 300 yards passing and receiver Keaton Belsher more than 180 yards receiving to lead the offence as Central went on to a 45-15 win over the Colts.
The victory sees Central improve to 3-0 on the season to hold down first place at the midway point of the South Rural campaign.
“Going into Swift Current isn’t always the easiest, they’re usually a pretty strong team playing at home,” said Cyclones head coach Colin Belsher. “It started out a little rocky giving up a point on the opening kick-off and the first quarter wasn’t greatest, but then the second quarter hit and we were off to the races.”
Making things even more interesting is with the way Central dominated, Craik played barely half the game -- he’d finish 11-for-17 passing for 310 yards before leaving early in the third quarter as the Cyclones gave their youngsters some time behind centre.
Grade 9 pivot Hudson Belsher was able to play the majority of the third quarter, while Traeton Potvin did the same in the fourth.
“Playwise, I think it was actually fairly balanced,” coach Belsher said. “We still ran for close to 100 yards as a team even with the passing game going like it was, and it was nice to get both of my Grade 9 quarterbacks into the game in the second half as well. Any time you can get those guys experience in a live game is really valuable.”
Keaton Belsher finished with five catches for 182 yards and a touchdown, while Alec Tangan had three catches for 100 yards and two majors. All told, seven players had at least one catch in the game.
On the ground, Kayden Nightingale had 12 carries for 79 yards and a major, and things were also spread out carrying the ball with six players getting touches.
Rhett Prior and Tylan Galey had the Cyclones' other touchdowns; Ciaran McCulloch kicked a field goal and racked up six converts.
Swift Current’s Owen Sletten was 11-for-24 passing for 148 yards, with Derric Dulatre catching two passes for 48 yards and Riley Wingert making three catches for 44 yards. Rylan Fehr was their top rusher with nine carries for 47 yards.
Slatten and Wingert each had touchdowns for the Colts.
Central’s attention now turns to what could be one of the biggest games of the regular season when they take on the also-undefeated Balgonie Greenall Griffins next Saturday at 1 p.m. at Gutheridge Field. Balgonie is coming off a huge win on Thursday night where they defeated the defending provincial champion Weyburn Eagles 14-0.
“Greenall has represented Regina the last four or five years at provincial playdowns, and they’ve already beaten Weyburn when Weyburn hasn’t lost in our league in a few years,” Belsher said. “So it looks like they’re the team to beat. That’ll be the real test next Saturday, to kind of see where we fit in that top three or four teams in the league.”
League action continues Tuesday with three games, with Peacock at Weyburn, Yorkton at Balgonie and Estevan at Swift Current. Other games Saturday include Peacock at Yorkton and Swift Current at Weyburn.
All games on Tuesday are at 4 p.m., all games Saturday are at 1 p.m.
