The Creighton Kodiaks fought hard against a juggernaut Wakaw team last week at home, but came up short in the end, losing 57-30.
The home squad opened up leads against the Warriors at different parts of the first half, but things fell apart in the second quarter, leading to the margin widening and Wakaw opening up almost a 30 point lead late.
Creighton forced the defending champions’ hands early, forcing a fumble on the Warriors’ first play from scrimmage, but Wakaw showed why they were atop the league with a combination of long passes and quick runs. The visitors pushed their way down the field and despite Wakaw’s Nolan Holmes fumbling the ball before getting over the goalline, the touchdown counted and the Warriors got out to a 6-0 lead.
When Creighton first got the ball, it was the Payton Pelletier show, as the running back pushed the Warriors back play after play to shouts from the Kodiaks’ sideline of “green machine”. Pelletier, Jordan Gorrell and Kieran Bonsant-McInnes charged the ball down the field, with Pelletier finally breaking through into the endzone. Rogan Hlady made the kick, giving Creighton a first - an 8-6 lead against the league leaders.
Creighton almost got a lucky break, as the ensuing kickoff was flubbed by the Wakaw receiver, leading to the Kodiaks recovering it, but no fumble was called and instead the ball stayed in Wakaw’s possession. Creighton forced a three-and-out on Wakaw anyway, less than 20 yards away from the goalline, but couldn’t manage to move it ahead and turned the ball over. One play later, the home team got an interception from Kwinton Lycan that got the Kodiaks right back to striking distance. On the next play, Pelletier got his second touchdown of the quarter, giving Creighton a 14-6 lead. Wakaw would score a touchdown of their own to end the quarter, putting both teams into the second tied 14-14.
A second interception by the Kodiaks, this time by Ethan Lavis deep in their own end, would start the second quarter for Creighton. Wakaw's defence would hold firm, stopping the Kodiaks for two straight drives in close, then Wakaw’s Noah Skoworodko caught and ran in a long touchdown that would put the Warriors up. Pelletier would answer back for the Kodiaks again not long after, with Creighton making the kick to get a 22-20 lead.
The lead wouldn’t last long. Wakaw’s passing game got going, first giving them a touchdown and a one-point convert to re-take the lead at 27-22, then snagging a last-second touchdown to go up 35-22 heading into halftime.
The rain and wind would pick up in the second half and Warriors would own the ball from there on out, going up 51-22 going into the fourth quarter and swapping touchdowns late.
The result gives the Kodiaks a 1-2 record on the season with one regular season game remaining, putting them fourth of five teams in the league. A loss by last-place Rosthern confirms that Creighton will make the conference playoffs, but wins by both Wakaw and Hague mean the Kodiaks will have to play their first playoff game on the road against one of those two teams later this month.
The Kodiaks can still finish third, depending on the result of their final regular season game this week - at home Oct. 12 against the Shellbrook Aardvarks. The game starts at 3:30 p.m. local time.
The Kodiaks nearly beat the Aardvarks in a provincial playoff game two years ago and lost to them in an exhibition game earlier this year on the road, but both teams have identical 1-2 records. The winner of the Creighton/Shellbrook game will play whichever team loses between Wakaw and Hague this week in the league’s playoff bracket.
