Cyclones Take Final Seconds Loss
With 13.2 seconds left in the game the Central Cyclones had a 27 - 24 lead over the Greenall Griffins and victory well within reach.
Then Greenall’s quarterback through a javelin of a pass through the center that struck the Cyclones’ heart and ended up being the winning touchdown.
For the first time this season the Central Cyclones lost as they were defeated 31 - 27 by the visiting Greenall Griffins.
Central Cyclones Reid Weiss takes off for a long touchdown run on the opening kickoff - MJ Independent photo
The game started off well for the Cyclones with the opening kick off ran down the field for a touchdown by Reid Weiss. They added a two point conversion for an early 8 - 0 lead.
Despite the opening blow amidships the Griffins were able to regain their composure and bounce back.
The Griffins were able to take the lead in the first quarter going up 14 - 8.
The quarter scores were:
Griffin 14. Cyclones 8 1st Quarter
Griffins 24. Cyclones 14 Half Time
Griffins 24 Cyclones 24 3rd Quarter
Griffins 31 Cyclones 27 Final Score
For Greenall Griffins head coach Marco Ricci Friday evening’s victory was fun for the team.
“We knew it was going to be crazy fun. There is such a great atmosphere here. The Central Cyclones are the best team. They are the cream of the crop not only in Saskatchewan but throughout Canada so we know a really good team well coached with great players,” he said.
“I’m really proud of our guys. We’ve gone through a lot of adversity and we’re trying to pull through. It pulls our mind off and gives us a little bit of a reprieve off of it.”
The team has been facing adversity since their captain Hunter Gronick suffered a devastating head injury at a September 10th game in Swift Current and there was talk of shutting down the season as a result.
There was talk of shutting the Griffins down for the season but it was decided to continue despite losing their captain.
Touchdown Griffins - MJ Independent photo
Holding down the Cyclones explosive offence was a top priority.
“We knew what kind of powerful offence they had so we looked at what we can do. So we just wanted to control that offence as much as we can.”
“For the most part we just wanted to keep the point total down because they can really run it up. They’ve got a lot of talent and we were a little bit nervous about that,” he said.
The Cyclones scoring an opening kickoff touchdown hit the Griffins hard.
“It’s not the way you want to start a game and then give up two point right away. We were able to battle back and get out there on offence and try to move the ball downfield. The main thing was trying to stick with them and then maybe later having the opportunity to pull it through.”
Central Cyclones head coach Colin Belsher said how the Griffins played was no surprise.
“It was exciting. We talked all week we knew Greenall wasn’t going to roll over. We knew they were going to come out strong and they did. We came out flying with that kick return and they punched right back. It was a fight all night long,” Belsher said.
The second half was the big bounce back for the Cyclones.
“We showed some resilience in the second half and that’s kind of the message I was telling the kids. Don’t hang your heads we were down at the half but we fought back and had an opportunity to win the game. That’s all you can really ask for,” he said.
The momentum shift in the second half to the Cyclones was noticeable.
“That’s football. You’ve got highs and lows. If you can hold onto those highs for as long as you can you’re usually successful,” he said, adding “we held onto it until about a minute and a half left and they grabbed it.”
Despite their successes so far this year Belsher said the emphasis is on improvement.
“We keep talking to the kids we got to get better. We got to get better. We got to get better. Don’t get complacent because all of the other teams are going to get better. So I think for us this is a bit of a rude awakening an eye opener so these kids understand we got to get better.”
Asked about the Griffins seeming to beat the Cyclones on a couple of big plays to secure the victory he said “that’s what football is. It’s a missed block here, a big play there. The smallest of little things (can cost you the game).”
“It’s the small things that become big things then in the end the scoreboard tells the story.”
About upcoming practices he stressed how the players have to learn to lean on each other and trust one another.
