It’s always a big deal when the Yorkton Regional High School Raider Gridders get under the bright lights on a Friday night. This year’s Friday Night Lights game took place on Sept. 14, with the Moose Jaw Central Cyclones taking on the Raiders.
The Raiders quickly took the lead in the first half, with a quick succession of touchdowns putting them up by 21. The Cyclones were not able to catch up, but they were able to give the Raiders a challenge for the remainder of the game, putting two touchdowns on the board and preventing the Raiders from getting too far ahead for the majority of the contest. The Raiders kept scoring through the second half as well, leading to high numbers on the board.
The final score was 38-14 for the Yorkton squad.
Coach Roby Sharpe said it was a good night for football, and he was impressed by the competition that the Moose Jaw Central team offered.
“They tested us and it was good.”
The Friday night game is an important one for the team as well, because it brings out the crowd and it’s a rare opportunity to play under the lights in Yorkton.
“Guys play hard for this one, and it’s an important one because it will probably stick with you for the rest of your life.”
Quarterback Jordn Rusnack played for his third, and final, time under the lights at Century Field. The Grade 12 students was pulled up in Grade 10, and is proud that they’ve wound up on the winning side for each Friday Night Lights appearance.
“When we get the chance to get out the lights and bring the community together, we’ve got multiple groups in our school doing activities like face painting, band, choir and everything coming together. It’s just overall a good school spirit night.”
While it was a convincing win in the end, the team has things to work on, specifically penalties. Sharpe admits that the team needed more discipline, and gave the Cyclones opportunities they otherwise would not have had.
“We took way, way too many penalties.”
Rusnack agrees that penalties were the weak point for the team.
“We only allowed 22 yards rushing on defense, but passing we need to focus on more. Offense, everyone worked well together.”
The team is now preparing to face Moose Jaw Vanier in Moose Jaw on Sept. 22.
“We’ll enjoy this one right now, and Monday we will get back to work.”
Rusnack is confident in the team this season, and he has his eyes on the provincial prize at the end of it, though he admits they still have to work on a couple things before they get there.
Sharpe also thanked the community for their support of the team. Putting on the evening means going well beyond just playing a game, but the community has to show up and the school takes it as an opportunity to show off some of the other things happening in YRHS at the beginning of the year.
“It’s not just about the football game, it’s about the school and the community.”
