The St. Paul Lions bounced back after a loss in Bonnyville to defeat rivals and division leaders the Cold Lake Royals in an away game on Friday.
While the Royals took the early lead in the first quarter, the Lions followed it up with steady pressure, leading to a 27-22 victory.
Head coach Todd Tanasichuk said the match started similar to the previous match against Bonnyville, “kind of slow," with the Royals taking a 9-0 lead early in the first.
“It looked like it was going to be a gong show again, and then our boys started playing good," he recalled.
The Lions took the lead 14-9 after Dale Krankowsky ran one in at 50 yards. The Royals responded with two touchdowns for 22-14 at half time.
While the team was “a little rattled," it settled down at half time and came out strong in the second half, he said. “We really took it to them in the second half but it was still a close game in the end."
Mark Proskiw threw a 50-yard pass and run to bring the Lions closer, but the Lions failed on a two-point conversion attempt. With five minutes left and a few completed passes into the end zone, Jason Jubinville ran it in for the Lions for the lead.
The Lions had another chance but did not increase its lead, but the five-point sealed the deal for the win.
The teams in the league are so close this year, “if you don't come out ready to play, you're going to lose," said Tanasichuk.
The head coach credited offensive line coaches John Lumby and Steve Johnson for the win.
Cold Lake had already earned itself a bye to the Wheatland Football League semi-finals.
The Lions will host the Lloydminster Comp. Barons on Saturday at 1 p.m. for the quarter-final match, which will determine if the Lions carry on to the semi-finals.
