The North Battleford Touch Football League wrapped up Friday, with the Rhinos and the Huskies battling for the title.
The chill winter wind was blowing, but the Rhinos heated things up quickly, stampeding to an 18-0 lead before the first half was over.
The Rhinos were first in the regular season, with an 11-1-0 record, and the favourites in the final after winning last season and playing in the championship game in the past five seasons.
"We played these guys twice before and we beat them both times," said Rhinos player Jay Crockett.
Late in the first half, the Huskies rallied the pack and scored a convert and touchdown, bringing the score to 18-8 at halftime.
"That's really what changed the game," said Huskies founder Kevan Migneault.
Migneault usually plays quarterback, but an arm injury had him on the sidelines. His son, Marc, who played in the BCJFL with the Vancouver Island Raiders, took over as quarterback.
"My son's a better quarterback than I am," said Migneault, adding he's one of the oldest guys in the league at 58.
Migneault's other son, Monte, is the team's hiker.
After putting a dent in the Rhinos' lead, the Huskies steadily climbed their way to a 20-18 lead, a lead the Rhinos were unable to overcome.
"We came up a little short against a good team," said Crockett. He added that this year the Rhinos ran into a team full of athletes who consistently put up points and are tough to score against. "We had them, up 18-8 at half and as former Arizona Cardinals coach Dennis Green said "They are who we thought they were...and we let 'em off the hook," quoted Crockett.
The Huskies had an 8-2-2 record on the season and won two of the past three league championships.
