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Thursday’s game came down to one play.
With 13 seconds ticking away on the clock, Shelton Paul led his Carlton Crusaders football team to the line of scrimmage.
On this second-down play, quarterback Shelton Paul dropped back and couldn’t connect with Ian McAlpine in the end zone as time expired.
This gave the North Battleford Vikings (1-1) a 29-23 win over the Crusaders (0-3) at Max Clunie Field.
It was an exciting final two minutes for both teams, beginning with a goal line stand by the Crusaders. The home team stopped Vikings running back Keegan Horrell on third down at the three-yard line with 1:24 to play.
On that first down, Paul’s pass came up short of his intended target. The Crusaders followed up with a run that the Vikings sniffed out, forcing Paul into a punt from his own end zone.
Former Crusader Landon Aimoe returned that punt to the one-yard line before Horrell dove across the line to put the Vikings up 29-23. However, Aimoe kept hope alive for Carlton when he missed the extra point.
On the kickoff, a short kick set up the Crusaders in excellent field position. In a mix of plays on the ground and through the air, Paul got the Crusaders down the field, but they were unable to complete the comeback drive.
Early in the game, the Crusaders jumped out to a 7-0 lead behind a Paul touchdown pass. He connected with McAlpine for a 28-yard strike in the first quarter.
On the ensuing kickoff, Aimoe broke off a 75-yard return for a touchdown to tie the game 7-7.
Later in the first quarter, Carlton earned a rouge on a missed field goal to go up 8-7.
The score stayed the same until late in the second quarter. With 36 seconds left, Vikings quarterback Damon Dutton found Zach Wolfe for a 37-yard touchdown pass to put North Battleford up 13-8 at halftime.
Following Dutton throwing an interception early in the third quarter, Paul scored on a four-yard quarterback keeper to give the Crusaders a 16-13 lead.
After giving up a safety when the Crusaders were pinned deep in their own end, Dylan Schaeffer scored on a two-yard touchdown run to put the Vikings up 23-16.
The Crusaders drove back down the field with running back Bryson Simpson capping off the drive with an eight-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 23-23 and set up the wild finish.
The Vikings are at home on Friday night against the St. Joseph Guardians (1-2). Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
