The Bonnyville Voyageurs got their redemption. In a rematch of last year's consolation final, this time played on Walsh Field, the Voyageurs beat the Wainwright Commandos, in dramatic fashion 24-23.
Losing to the Commandos in Wainwright last season was hard to take for many of the Voyageurs veterans. So, to win this year at home, especially for their graduating players, was a perfect way to end the season.
“It feels great!” exclaimed both Tyler Jahn and Blake Adams, following the game. Jahn caught the winning touchdown with just seconds remaining and Adams had a huge day running the ball. Both are graduating this year and came up big for their team in their final game.
“That was one of the best games I've ever been involved in… and give Wainwright credit, they're a good team and they didn't give up,” said coach Brian Walsh, adding, “But our boys and our coaches, they believed…it took our best to win today and we played our best.”
The Voyageurs dominated the play for the majority of the game, especially on defence, keeping the Commandos off the scoreboard until the fourth quarter. Bonnyville's offence did the job as well, holding onto the ball for the better part of the game and catching a break on their first touchdown.
With 10 seconds left in the first quarter, Voyageurs quarterback Jeremy Fagnan threw the ball laterally towards Jahn, however, it fell short. But because the ball did not travel forward, the ball was still live and Jahn picked it up off the field and ran 90 yards for the touchdown, giving Bonnyville the 8-0 lead.
Their defence came up big to start the second quarter, with Jossua Campos making an interception for Bonnyville. The Voyageurs defence kept the pressure on, forcing Wainwright to turn the ball over on downs on their next two possessions.
Bonnyville kept it coming in the second half.
Jahn had been punting great all day, and again he managed to pin the Commandos deep in their own territory. Then safety Lucas Church came up big, picking off his first of two interceptions that day.
Bonnyville moved the ball down the field on their next possession, capping off the drive with a nice pass from Fagnan to Matthew Church for the touchdown and the 15-0 lead.
Things just kept going the Voyageurs' way, recovering a Wainwright fumble on the Commandos very next possession.
But Bonnyville gave it right back, with a fumble of their own. However, Lucas Church stepped up again, grabbing his second interception, which eventually resulted in a field goal, making the score 18-0.
Nothing seemed to be going right for the Commandos, and it looked like things were getting worse when their starting quarterback went down in the fourth quarter with an injury to his throwing hand.
But instead of giving up, Wainwright began their valiant comeback.
On his first play, the Commandos backup QB ran straight up the middle for 15 yards. He followed that with three more running plays, eventually reaching the end zone to cut the lead to 18-8.
The Commandos defence also began showing some life, forcing the Voyageurs to punt the ball away with under six minutes remaining. Jahn was able to pin them deep again, but that would not be enough to stop the Commandos' offensive surge.
The Commandos backup QB was again able to step back, survey the field and then tuck the ball in and run it up the middle. With only three minutes remaining, Wainwright scored their second touchdown, again making the two-point conversion to bring the score to 18-16.
Bonnyville could not muster a successful drive on their next possession, punting it away from centre field. But Jahn's punt was short, giving Wainwright decent field position to start their drive.
With a minute left and a third down and four to go, Wainwright called a time out.
The Commandos returned to the field and their backup QB again ran it, this time getting the first down. Then on the next play he threw it up and his receiver brought it down and ran it in for the go-ahead touchdown.
Wainwright was now up 23-18 with 40 seconds to go. It appeared that the Voyageurs were about to suffer a heartbreaking loss.
But Fagnan and his offence did not falter. Fagnan made a perfect pass to the reliable Matthew Church to bring them close to mid-field. Voyageurs receiver Jacob Short came up with another big catch on their next play to bring them 10 yards closer with 10 seconds to go.
With the pressure on, sitting on the Commandos 40-yard line, the Voyageurs had one more chance. Fagnan took the snap and stepped back and threw a long, high, arching pass to a streaking Jahn.
Jahn had blown by the cornerback, leaving himself open and alone. The pass came down perfectly in his arms and he stepped into the end zone untouched. The Voyageurs now had the lead back, going up 24-23 with five seconds to go.
Wainwright got the ball back for their final attempt, but this time the Voyageurs defence was ready.
Fagnan had come back out on the field in a defensive back roll for the final play.
Wainwright threw a Hail Mary and Fagnan, who had been a force on offence all day, came up with the Voyageurs' fourth interception of the day to end the game and give the Voyageurs a huge win in the consolation championship.
After shaking hands with the resilient Commandos, the Voyageurs and all their fans took to the field to celebrate. Players were hugging and there were high fives going around everywhere. The win capped off a good season for the Voyageurs. And to beat Wainwright after last year's loss was redemption for Voyageurs fans, coaches and most importantly players.
“This was the best game I've played in… the win feels amazing,” said Matthew Church, as he celebrated with teammates, friends and family.
Tyler Jahn was out of breath and overjoyed but still explained the winning catch. “Great pass from Jeremy (Fagnan); perfect, right in my hands. Right place at the right time, it was awesome.”
Blake Adams, who had a great game of his own, could not say enough about his team. “Jahn always plays great, today he played amazing… and Lucas Church, game-saver.”
Most amazing, said Adams, was the final drive down the field. “To drive the whole field in the last 40 seconds to win by one point… it feels awesome!”
