The St. Paul Lions moved to 4-0 on Friday in a 50-20 victory over the Bonnyville Voyageurs that saw running back Jason Jubinville further attack the record books.
Jubinville scored five touchdowns in the game, tying his own record for most touchdowns in a game by a Lion, set in the team’s season opener against the Lloydminster Barons.
“He’s a sensational talent and what’s great about him is that he’s getting better,” said Lions co-head coach John Lumby. “He’s making some really good choices out on the field.”
The running back ran for 138 yards on 17 carries, bringing his season rushing yardage to an astounding 885 yards. That is only 23 yards off of the team’s 10-year-old record for rushing yards in a season, only four games into the season.
“He is assaulting the team record book in various ways,” Lions co-head coach Todd Tanasichuk said in a post-game email. “His speed left the Voyageurs bewildered.”
Once again, the Lions grabbed the lead early and refused to let go, although Bonnyville gave them a stiff challenge.
Jubinville opened the scoring about five minutes into the game on a short run play, and the Lions converted two points to give them an 8-0 lead, but the Voyageurs quickly responded to bring the score to 8-7.
Jubinville responded in the second quarter with another touchdown, but the Voyageurs answered right back to cut the Lions’ lead down to two.
Before the half, defensive end Dwight Garner suffered an injury and was forced to leave the game. “Dwight is an emotional leader for us, and the boys responded well, doing their best to play well for him,” Tanasichuk said.
Tanasichuk added that the team needed to “mentally regroup” after seeing their teammate succumb to injury, and they did just that, as Dominic Dion followed up the adversity with a one-handed interception that he returned 45 yards to the Voyageurs two-yard line, setting up another easy touchdown for Jubinville.
The Lions tore the game open in the third quarter, as Brenden McKay picked two interceptions and the Lions were able to generate scoring drives on each turnover, both of which were finished off by none other than Jubinville.
Lions fullback Dylan Machura added another touchdown heading into the final frame, and in the early minutes of the fourth quarter, McKay as the quarterback called on his own number to run the ball in from 28 yards out, bringing the Lions’ lead to 50-13.
While the Voyageurs added another touchdown in the dying minutes of the game, it was too little too late, as the Lions left the field in Bonnyville with another important victory.
Tanasichuk said that it was a very rough game, but for the first time this season, the Lions committed fewer penalties than their opponents.
“While the game went our way, there were points of nastiness that really tested our resolve,” Tanasichuk said. “It was good to see our kids fight through the intimidation and continue to put points on the board.”
The Lions will host the rematch against the Bonnyville Voyageurs this Friday at St. Paul Regional High School field at 4:45 p.m.
“Hopefully, we’ve learned never to take any team lightly,” Lumby said, noting Bonnyville is well coached. “We had a tough game, the score ended up fairly tilted in our favor but I think everybody knows they’re a tough team.”
