For the Yorkton Regional High School Raiders, the Moose Jaw High School Football League Championship game might as well have been a repeat as untimely injuries changed the story from an anticipated match up between two of the best high school football programs in Saskatchewan into a story of "what if" for a second straight season.
In 2012 the Raiders star running back Zak Kais was hobbled by a sprained ankle suffered just before playoffs after being the league's leading rusher for most of the season, his backup in Tyson Haas was hurt with an injure shoulder who also played linebacker where they already were missing Grey McKen who slipped in the shower prior to the game where the lost to Moose Jaw Peackock. This year Kais continued his bad playoff luck when it comes to injuries, breaking his collarbone on a bone crunching hit from Peacock senior linebacker Riley Ludwar. For the Raiders it took away half their playbook, forcing them to run a vanilla offense that was nothing like the complex schemes drafted by offensive coordinator Jason Boyda.
Still the Raiders defense, backed by senior linebackers Tyson Haas, Grey Mcken and rookie Caleb Bymak held strong holding Peacock to just one touchdown until late in the half. Right before the half Peacock quarterback Sawyer Buettner went long to senior wideout Levi Paul who hauled in a pass to make it 16-0. To make matters worse for the Raiders they gave the ball to Moose Jaw with time left on the clock, enough to kick a field goal to make it 19-0.
Yorkton came out hungry to start the second half, forcing a fumble on the opening kick off before David Balysky drove the Orange all the way to the Peacock seven yard line. A situation that almost ended every time with a Kais touchdown during the regular season ended with backup tailback Tyrell Ulmer being stopped just four yards shy of the goal line on third down. On the first Peacock play MVP Nathan Fall would take a handoff 85 yards, Moose Jaw would eventually score in what was the turning point of the game.
From that point on it was all Moose Jaw Peacock, with quarterback Sawyer Buettner finishing with 11 completions on 14 passes and four touchdowns all to senior receiver Levi Paul to give Moose Jaw 40 points on the afternoon.
Caleb Bymak rumbled for a 70-yard touchdown run for Yorkton with 2:04 left to break-up the shutout, but the game was over at that point. Still with one last drive head coach Roby Sharpe opted to make a YRHS student's dream come true.
Team waterboy/diehard Raider fan and special needs student Tyler Senchuk, who was travelling with the team thanks to their new Getting in the Game program was sent out in his Raider jersey and a helmet to throw the final pass of the Championship game. Senchuk received the shotgun pass almost perfectly, went into a classic three step drop and delivered a pass to a wide open Tyrell Ulmer for a first down. After the game Sharpe said that the moment allowed the players to get a perspective that despite a second straight heartbreaking loss, life goes on after the football season.
"He's an awesome kid. You think about him, the kid would give anything to play. So we're going to complain that we lost? We've got a kid there who would give anything just to be out there with the guys," says Sharpe "He had his chance today too. Which was awesome."
"Today wasn't about winning and losing and well we all wanted that memory and moment of playing for a provincial championship at home and winning the league it isn't about that," says Sharpe. "These players are going to move on to become lawyers and doctors, teachers, have careers and remember this as a special season which is what football is all about, growing people and making memories that last forever."
Senchuk was the focus of the new Getting in the Game program, something that was devised by coach Roby Sharpe due to the Grade 12 student's deep passion for being a part of the team. Senchuk, who played elementary basketball at Dr. Brass in Yorkton loves sports and was never able to attend road games due to a lack of teacher's aides on the weekend. This offseason, Roby Sharpe decided that needed a change.
Chad Nehring, a former Raiders linebacker who is playing pro hockey in the ECHL, auctioned off a game-worn Idaho Steelheads jersey for $3,800 as part of the Raiders' annual Football Night in Saskatchewan where Saskatchewan Roughriders head coach Corey Chamblin was the keynote speaker.
Current Raiders wideout Ryan Krochak helped put together a video and speech explaining why the Raiders were starting the program and the bids for the jersey started flying across the room.
"Lee Rusnak, a local businessman here bought the jersey. That money went to this program we have called Getting In The Game so kids like Tyler could travel," said Sharpe. "It's not just for football. Any special needs student could travel with the team with a teacher's aid and have a regular high school experience.
For Sharpe the moment helped swallow what was a letdown for the team, which hasn't exactly had the best luck in Championship games as of late. "The injury to Kais cut our playbook in half and running a vanilla offense is not going to work against a team with a loaded defense like Peacock," said Sharpe who added "Maybe next year the Football Gods will smile on us with some health if we get back here."
Losing linebacker Grey Mcken, who expects to either commit to the University of Regina or Saskatchewan will be a huge blow as McKen won Defensive MVP at halftime on Saturday and led the team in tackles, as will losing Michael Kozushka on the line, but the Raiders team for a third year will be returning a wealth of talent. Peter Kozushka, who is drawing NCAA D-I interest, will be back on the offensive line as will Zak Kais in the backfield and interception and receiving yards leader Alex Popoff. Linebacker Caleb Bymak will be back for his second season to help at linebacker with Tyson Haas and McKen graduating.
A switch at quarterback will also be in the cards as David Balysky moves on after a successful switch from tailback to pivot this season, he will likely be replaced by two year YRHS Jr. team starter Nick Payne, who helped the Raiders reach the RMF Final in 2012.
New faces will come in this winter during workouts and during spring ball, but the graduating players can remember being apart of one of the best era's of the Raiders football history. Two straight Championship appearances and four losses over a two season span is something to be extremely proud of and something that head coach Roby Sharpe says he won't forget. "These guys were one of the best teams I have ever coached and those memories won't go away anytime soon."
