The Hafford Vikings, 2023 1A six-aside provincial football champions. (Facebook/Saskatchewan High Schools Athletic Association)

By Martin Martinson

Dynasty Continues

Hafford Vikings complete ‘drive-for-five’ with fifth straight provincial title

Nov 14, 2023 | 4:00 PM

The Hafford Vikings continued their run of dominance over the weekend, taking home their fifth straight 1A six-aside provincial football championship, with a thrilling 57-54 victory over the North Valley High Eagles, in Lemberg.

An epic come-from-behind victory to clinch the provincial championship, head coach Ryan Barnstable said it was one that took a mix of poise and relentlessness.

“It wasn’t looking great for a lot of that game and we knew we were in tough as Lemberg is a great team, but I think the boys just showed a lot of maturity to not get too down,” the coach said.

“We talked before the game about just taking it one play at a time and not getting too high or too low, and it was just a matter of getting some stops on defence and we were lucky enough to get one late in the game to get a chance to take the lead.”

A 14-9 Eagles lead at the end of the first quarter, and 31-21 advantage at the half, the Vikings would stick around as the game progressed, though still down eight through three quarters, trailing 45-37.

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That is until the fourth, when, with the clock burning down and the provincial title hanging in the balance, the Vikings amped it up another notch with a few big plays down the stretch.

Punching back to close the gap to within three, trailing just 54-51 into the final two minutes, the Vikings would get a huge stop from Ty Mix to thwart the Eagles on third down and set up the game-winning drive the other way.

It was a drive capped off as if out of a classic movie – off a connection by the team’s two Grade 12 players – as quarterback Hunter Barnstable hit wide receiver Koen Cherwinski for the go-ahead score to give the Vikings their first lead of the game at 57-54 with just 42 seconds to go.

“It was a good play,” Cherwinski said with an audible smile, replaying it in his head. “I had to make sure I caught that ball… and I put everything into catching that ball, to make sure I had it.”

Cherwinski said to catch the clinching touchdown off a pass from his longtime friend and quarterback, also just served as the cherry on top to cap their senior year together.

“Ever since I’ve played football he’s been my quarterback so we’ve played a lot and we have that [level of familiarity] not a lot of quarterbacks and receivers have; we’ve been playing together forever.” – Koen Cherwinski on his chemistry with Hunter Barnstable

However, while a big score, the fate of the championship game remained up in the air into the final play of the game, with the Eagles pushing for an answer back late, either to tie the game on a field goal or outright steal the lead back on a touchdown drive in the final minute.

That is until a big play by Hunter Barnstable on the defensive side of the ball to intercept a pass, sealed the victory for his team, allowing them to run out the clock.

Reflecting on the game, the quarterback was all about the team and the combined effort it took to get the job done, stating that of his now three provincial championships, this one will hold a particularly special place.

“This one hits different,” Barnstable said, with a genuine reverence in his tone. “This one we had to work a lot harder for it, and even in the final – we haven’t had a game that close ever – we hadn’t ever had to fight like that and keep fighting and keep persevering like we did in that game, so it just feels really good…

“That was the perfect ending to the season.”

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @MartyMartyPxP1