Vikings Punt Shadows In Playoff Showdown
The Vanier Vikings defeated the Shaunavon Shadows 45 - 20 in 9 A Side Conference Two playoffs Friday evening in Moose Jaw.
Playing under the lights of Elks Field the Vikings shone through to record a 45 - 20 victory over top of the Shadows.
It was the Vikings second win in as many weeks versus the Shadows.
The Shadows had been the Vikings opponent in their final regular season game , a must win after the Vikings loss to Indian Head, with Vanier winning 36 - 28.
Both the Vikings and the Shadows finished up their respective regular seasons with 2 - 2 records. Vanier got the home playoff game because they had defeated the Shadows.
Vikings’ Coen Adrian (right) attempts to catch a pass followed closely by the Shadows’ Jaxon Poppy - MJ Independent photo
The First Quarter saw Vanier take a 6 - 0 lead after failing on a two point conversion.
With less than three minutes left in the Half the Shadows would score a touch down to take a 14 - 6 lead.
The Vikings however would score after a long run by Coen Adrian. Combined with a two point conversion the score was tied 14 - 14.
A key play giving the Vikings momentum came off a quarterback sneak by Grayson Hrenyk for a touchdown at 9:37 of the third quarter.
A second quarterback sneak by Hrenyk on the conversion added two points plus gave the Vikings a massive rush of momentum the Shadows couldn’t overcome.
The Shadows’ Colby Wright (left) tracks down the Vikings’ Gabe Yasinski - MJ Independent photo
“It was a great win. Right from Grade Nine to Grade 12 everybody did their part and we were successful,” Vikings head coach Luke Tkachuk said.
The First Half turned out as expected.
“Coming into the game we knew they were going to score. We knew we were going to score it was just battling through that,” Tkachuk said.
Asked about the Vikings adjustment to counter powerhouse Cash Lewans he said the team was prepared.
A pass to a Shadows’ player - MJ Independent photo
“All week we knew they were going to be heavy on the run so we prepped for it so our guys were successful,” he said.
Lewans has not just been a hazard to the Vikings in 2025. Last season, 2024, he made his presence known when the Shadows played in Moose Jaw.
His powerful running style was something the Vikings were well aware of.
On the Vikings’ bench - MJ Independent photo
Tkachuk said he was happy with the team’s efforts in 2025.
He made mentions of the ups and down and battling through it.
For example the loss to Indian Head was a tough given at the time it looked like it might end the Bikings playoff hopes for another year.
Shadows’ Cash Lewans misses a pass - MJ Independent photo
“Everybody has stepped up to the plate. Everybody has done their job. It’s kind of like what we’ve been always pressing guy to do their job and execute time after time.”
Asked to comment about the composition of the crowd being majority wise adults and not students he declined.
“It’s always been an awesome crowd out here.”
