MOOSE JAW -- It won’t come as too much of a surprise given how things have gone for their team this season, but the Central Cyclones will officially finish in first place in the South Rural Football League standings.
The Cyclones improved to 5-0 on the campaign and locked down top spot in the league with a 43-14 victory over the Peacock Tornadoes in an all-Moose Jaw match-up on Saturday at Gutheridge Field.
Peacock falls to 1-4 and remain in sixth place in the seven-team loop.
It was a stellar outing for Cyclones wide receiver Keaton Belsher, who finished with four touchdowns in the contest -- including one for each of the three passes he caught on the afternoon. That included an 89-yard major with 5:37 to play in the first half followed by 18-yard and 13-yard catches in the third quarter.
Belsher would finish with three catches for 119 yards.
Central took a 14-0 lead out of the first quarter and used a 12-yard touchdown reception by Reid Weiss five minutes into the second quarter and a one-yard run by Kayden Nightengale with 4:23 to play in the half to boost their edge to 28-0 heading into the break.
Belsher’s third-quarter touchdowns made it a 43-0 lead heading into the fourth quarter when Peacock was able to string some offence together.
Nate Measner got the Tornadoes on the board with an 11-yard catch with 7:30 to play in the game and Dax Gibney hauled in a 39-yard pass with 1:27 remaining to close out scoring on the afternoon.
Nightingale finished with 13 carries for 155 yards to lead Central’s ground game, while quarterback Hudson Belsher was 4-for-10 passing for 139 yards and Traeton Potvin 3-for-4 for 24 yards.
The Cyclones finished with 335 yards total offence.
Peacock quarterback Rayan Gebhart was 6-for-14 passing for 108 yards and was also the Tornadoes’ leading rusher with 18 carries for 36 yards. Measner had two catches for 22 yards, Kam Loptson added a 40-yard reception.
Peacock capped their afternoon with 153 yards offence.
The final week of the regular season will see the playoff picture settled, with three games on Saturday. Central is at Weyburn (12 p.m.), Peacock is at Estevan (4:30 p.m.) and Swift Current is at Balgoine (6 p.m.).
