Alberta beats Ontario 27-19 in overtime to claim the U18 Women’s National Tackle Championship Gold Medal, Québec finishes third
The final day of the 2025 U18 Women’s National Tackle Championship delivered a fitting close to a high-energy week in Calgary, with all six teams showcasing their growth, grit, and competitive fire. Alberta capped off the event with an overtime win to take the national title, while Québec and Saskatchewan wrapped up their tournaments on high notes with decisive victories.
Saskatchewan wrapped up their tournament with a 51–12 victory over National Indigenous, using a steady ground game and timely defensive stops to earn fourth place. The duo of Ella Schenher and Ellie Wicks paced the offence with a combined seven rushing touchdowns, leaning on a physical run-first approach. Saskatchewan opened with two efficient scoring drives, but National Indigenous responded with an 82-yard touchdown from Taj-Marie Thompson to keep the game close early. The second quarter saw Saskatchewan extend their lead, including a standout 35-yard touchdown run by Schenher and a long scoring sprint from Wicks following a 53-yard dash by Schenher. National Indigenous found the end zone again just before halftime on another deep pass to Thompson, making it 34–12 at the break. Despite the scoreline, both teams traded big plays in the first half and played with pace and energy throughout.
National Indigenous showcased explosive potential through the air but struggled to sustain drives as the game wore on. Thompson was the standout, finishing with two touchdowns and over 140 receiving yards, while Sienna Deschambault also contributed key completions under pressure. A third-quarter drive that spanned 10 plays and covered 80 yards looked poised to shift momentum, but Saskatchewan came up with a red zone interception that halted the threat. Saskatchewan then responded with an 18-play drive of their own, eating up over nine minutes and putting the game out of reach. Justice Berens anchored the National Indigenous defence with 14.5 tackles, often tasked with slowing down a Saskatchewan run game that leaned on depth and physicality. Though the scoreline tilted toward Saskatchewan, National Indigenous made the most of their opportunities and closed out their tournament showing plenty of fight and promise.
Quebec’s offence came out firing and never let up, racking up 491 total yards and scoring on their very first touch of the ball. A stunning 94-yard kickoff return touchdown from Norah Rondeau opened the game, and it set the tone for a relentless first-half effort. Quebec scored on all but one of their first six drives, with explosive plays from Julia Guitard, Maika Hoyi, and Eliane Dallaire carving up Manitoba’s defence. Guitard’s 66-yard touchdown grab and Hoyi’s 27-yard scoring run were highlights in a 23-point first quarter, followed by another 23 points in the second. Dallaire’s 44-yard scamper to the end zone capped off a five-play, 80-yard drive that showcased Quebec’s ability to strike quickly and efficiently. Even special teams contributed, with a rouge off a missed field goal and a heads-up onside recovery late in the fourth.
Manitoba showed flashes of grit and playmaking, but struggled to slow down Quebec’s multi-faceted attack. A strong second-quarter drive led by Jocelyn Borynsky and Eden Gates gave Manitoba their first points of the day, and Azra Omar’s electric 97-yard kickoff return helped spark a fourth-quarter touchdown. However, repeated setbacks, including penalties, negative yardage plays, and an inability to flip field position, made it tough to build momentum. Manitoba was held to just 136 total offensive yards and suffered two interceptions, while Quebec’s defence constantly swarmed the backfield, registering sacks and forcing rushed throws. Despite the scoreline, Manitoba continued to battle through all four quarters, and the few times they broke free, it was clear they had playmakers capable of making noise. In the end, though, Quebec’s consistency and control on both sides of the ball proved too much.
In a rematch of their Day 1 showdown, Alberta edged Ontario 27–19 in overtime to claim the national title in front of a home crowd in Calgary. Despite falling to Ontario earlier in the tournament, Alberta came out with a renewed offensive identity, led by dual-threat quarterback Alivia Trudeau, who rushed for 90 yards and two touchdowns while completing 7 of 11 passes. The teams traded touchdowns in a frantic opening quarter — Ontario striking first, Alberta immediately answering, and Ontario responding again just 13 seconds later. But from there, Alberta’s defence tightened, holding Ontario scoreless in the second and third quarters while the offence chipped away at field position. Kicker Porscha Tomlinson played a pivotal role, hitting an 18-yard field goal and going a perfect 3-for-3 on extra points, while also handling punting and kickoffs with poise.
Ontario’s special teams kept them in the fight, with Katie Foley returning punts for 192 yards and two touchdowns — including a massive 89-yarder — and Braylynn Hawthorn-Harper housing a 79-yard kickoff. But outside of those explosive returns, Ontario’s offence was largely neutralized. Alberta’s defence allowed just three first downs and nine total rushing yards, and intercepted Maelie Parthenais twice. Ontario forced overtime with a clutch touchdown and conversion late in the fourth, but Alberta’s ground game, which racked up 222 yards on 37 carries, sealed the deal in the extra frame. Outgaining Ontario 321–116 and controlling the tempo, Alberta avenged its earlier loss and walked away with the gold medal and the top spot in Canada
