MOOSE JAW -- The beat just keeps on keeping on for the Moose Jaw Central Cyclones, and now they have a chance to repeat as South Rural Football League champions.
The Cyclones rolled to a 35-0 victory over the Weyburn Eagles in the league semifinal on Saturday afternoon at Gutheridge Field and will now face the Swift Current Colts for the SRFL title next weekend.
Swift Current booked their spot with a 41-7 win over the Balgonie Greenall Griffins in their semifinal.
Things were close early between Weyburn and Central, with an 18-yard run by Kayden Nightingale with 7:18 remaining the only points of the first quarter.
The Cyclones found their rhythm after the end switch, though, putting up three majors to take a 28-0 lead into halftime. Nightingale added his second touchdown of the game on a 26-yard run 5:03 into the quarter, after which Reid Weiss broke an 82-yard run on Central’s next possession and Keaton Belsher had a 57-yard punt return with 4:05 remaining.
With a comfortable lead secured, Central would add only a single major in the second half, that coming on a one-yard touchdown pass to Weiss with 7:29 remaining in the third quarter.
Nightingale ended up with 16 carries for 138 yards to go along with his two touchdowns. Belsher had six catches for 60 yards, Grady Neufeld added four catches for 56 yards.
Hudson Belser was 10-for-12 passing for 83 yards to lead the Cyclones at quarterback, Traeton Potvin completed three-of-four passes for 52 yards.
Central had 339 yards total offence.
Nash Hignett led Weyburn with four carries for 38 yards, Cole Payak had a single catch for 31 yards to lead the receiving corps. Quarterback Cooper Knox was 2-for-16 passing for 37 yards with three interceptions.
The Eagles had only 102 yards of total offence.
Central will now host Swift Current for the SRFL championship and a spot in the provincial semifinal on Saturday, Oct. 25, with kick-off at 1 p.m. from Gutheridge Field.
The first game of the Consolation Playoffs also took place Saturday at Gutheridge Field, with the Peacock Tornadoes taking a 27-10 win over the Estevan Elecs in their semifinal contest.
Nate Measner had the lone touchdown for Peacock as the Tornadoes took a 7-2 lead out of the first half.
Rayan Gebhart-Yuhas extended the lead to two scores with 6:46 to play in the third quarter and Measner would add further insurance with another major with 1:06 remaining.
Kruz Babich then capped scoring for the Tornadoes with their final touchdown with 10:07 to play in the fourth quarter.
Estevan’s Jayden Smith scored their lone touchdown with 36 seconds remaining in the game.
Peacock now advances to face the Yorkton Raiders in the Consolation Playoffs final, with action beginning at 2 p.m. on Saturday in Yorkton.
