MOOSEJAWTODAY.COM -- The Â鶹ÊÓƵ Rural Football League has reached the midpoint of the season, and with that comes one of the most anticipated games of the campaign.
The last two unbeaten teams in the seven-team loop will take the field on Saturday afternoon when the Central Cyclones host the Balgonie Greenall Griffins at Gutheridge Field.
It’s been a triumphant return and then some for the Griffins, who opted to rejoin the Â鶹ÊÓƵ Rural league this season after spending the past decade-plus playing out of the Regina Intercollegiate Football League.
They opened the season with a 92-6 win over the Estevan Elecs and haven’t looked back, edging the defending provincial 5A champion Weyburn Eagles 13-0 on Sept. 19 and taking a 54-14 win over the Yorkton Raiders this past Tuesday.
Greenall’s grinding running game has been their major key, led by back Shane McDougall, who put up no less than 228 yards rushing against the Eagles' staunch defence.
Central opened their season with a barnburner 28-24 win over the Peacock Tornadoes and followed up with a 61-0 win over Estevan on Sept. 14 before getting past the Swift Current Colts 45-15 this past Friday.
The Cyclones’ greatest weapon has been their passing attack, with Wyatt Craik passing for more than 300 yards and receiver Keaton Belsher hauling in close to 200 yards during the victory over the Colts.
As a result, how things will play out Saturday is anyone’s guess and will likely come down to the strength of their respective lines -- can the Griffins establish their run game, and can the Cyclones give Craik enough time to find his wealth of receivers downfield.
Other results on Tuesday saw Peacock drop another heartbreaker, this time falling 29-21 to Weyburn. The Eagles improved to 2-1, while Peacock fell to 1-2. Swift Current also got into the win column, improving to 1-3 thanks to a 30-14 win over the winless Elecs.
Other games Saturday see Peacock at Yorkton and Swift Current at Weyburn.
All game times are 1 p.m.
