WOMEN’s U-18 CHAMPIONSHIP: ALBERTA DOWNS SASKATCHEWAN IN CHAMPIONSHIP

by Jamie Geisler

Albertans score three touchdowns in second quarter to win inaugural event

REGINA – Team Alberta used a three-touchdown second-quarter outburst to down Saskatchewan, 36-12, and take the first-ever Football Canada Women’s Under-18 Championship, Saturday. The visitors got touchdowns from Emily McMillan, Sidanee Bowers and Mackenzie Morrell in the second period, as they turned a 6-0 first-quarter deficit into a 22-6 halftime lead and cruised to the win at Mosaic Stadium in Regina.

Nevaeh Lang had given Saskatchewan a 6-0 lead on a nine-yard run midway through the first quarter, which capped a 10-play 51-yard drive for the home side.

McMillan tied the game 3:18 into the second period on a six-yard run and, less than 90 seconds later, Sidanee Bowers’ 62-yard punt return put Alberta up 14-6, a lead they would never relinquish. Mackenzie Morrell scored from five yards out with 1:31 left in the second to put Alberta up 22-6 at halftime.

A three-yard run by Alberta’s LibertyJo Ware was the only scoring in the third quarter, while McMillan scored her second touchdown of the game early in the fourth. Lang bookended the scoring with her second touchdown of the game with three minutes left in the game, but Saskatchewan drew no closer.

Alberta outgained Saskatchewan 275 yards to 260, with both teams operating almost exclusively on the ground. Alberta’s Morrell led all rushers with 144 yards on 11 carries, while McMillan finished with 61 yards. Bowers put up 145 all-purpose yards, including 100 on punt returns.

For Saskatchewan, Camryn Dubreuil had 12 carries for 97 yards, while Jacey Goebel had 14 rushes for 81 yards. Goebel racked up 172 all-purpose yards, with six receiving yards, 16 kick return yards and a nice 69 yards on punt returns to go with her rushing total.

Defensively, Emily Krause led Alberta with an incredible 20 tackles, including 16 solo. She also blocked a kick. Abby Ounsworth led Saskatchewan with 11 tackles, while Tilka Chapman had 9.5 tackles, forced a fumble and had a fumble recovery.

Bronze Medal Playoffs

Earlier in the day, New Brunswick claimed the bronze medal with wins over Manitoba in Ontario in the three-team mini-game round-robin. Team N.B. downed Manitoba 13-3 and then upset Ontario 15-12. In the day’s first game, Ontario edged Manitoba 13-12, which gave them fourth place and put Manitoba into fifth place.

Ontario 13, Manitoba 12

A 13-yard catch by Calli Dorey with 1:13 left gave Ontario a 13-12 win over their neighbours from Manitoba. After Kamryn Szumlinksi had put Ontario up 7-0 with a 45-yard pass and a successful conversion, Delaney Waldner immediately replied with a 73-yard return of the ensuing kickoff to cut the gap to 7-6. Pearl Inglis put Manitoba on top 12-7 with a pick-six from 57 yards out halfway through the second period.

Marie Sartorio led Ontario with 10 carries for 98 yards, as her team outgained Manitoba 189-30 in the game. For Manitoba, Inglis finished with 3.5 tackles, including two for loss and the interception return touchdown.

New Brunswick 13, Manitoba 3

Alexia Brazeau and Alex Purdy scored for New Brunswick to lead them to a 13-3 win over Manitoba and set up a battle for bronze in the day’s final game. Brazeau scored on a 41-yard run late in the first, and Purdy scored on a 94-yard punt return just 29 seconds into the second to put N.B. up 13-0. Payton Turski replied for Manitoba with a 21-yard field goal.

Brazeau finished with 10 carries for 80 yards. Mckenna Hampson led Manitoba with 13 carries for 52 yards.

New Brunswick 15, Ontario 12

New Brunswick overcame a 12-2 halftime deficit to upset Ontario, 15-12, and take the bronze medal back to the Maritimes.

Kamryn Szumlinski had scored twice for Ontario, on a 53-yard pass and a 55-yard punt return in the first half. New Brunswick’s only scoring in the first was on a safety touch – the first by any team in the tournament.

The game changed in less than a minute early in the second period. At the 2:03 mark, Jana McAllister cut the lead to 12-8 with a 57-yard run, and then, just 48 seconds later, a pick-six by Emery Bowland from 51 yards put New Brunswick in front 14-12. A single by Clarissa Arseneault rounded out the scoring.

McAllister led all rushers with 74 yards on six carries, while Ontario’s Szumlinski had 70 yards on four carries. She put up 205 all-purpose yards in the mini-game, with 53 receiving yards and 82 on punt returns.

After today’s results, Alberta will carry the top seed into next year’s championship, followed by Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, Ontario and Manitoba, respectively.

Football Canada

2022 Women’s Under-18 Championship

All games at Regina

Standings GP W L PF PA Pct.

Saskatchewan 4 4 0 122 19 1.000

Alberta 4 3 1 106 15 .750

Ontario 4 2 2 40 96 .500

New Brunswick 4 1 3 25 63 .250

Manitoba 4 0 4 16 116 .000

Sunday, July 3

Round-robin (mini-games)

Saskatchewan def. New Brunswick, 32-0

Alberta def. Ontario, 30-1

Saskatchewan def. Manitoba, 32-0

Alberta def. New Brunswick, 24-0

Ontario def. Manitoba, 25-16

Wednesday, July 6

Round-robin (mini-games)

Alberta def. Manitoba, 40-0

Saskatchewan def. Ontario, 44-7

New Brunswick def. Manitoba, 19-0

Saskatchewan def. Alberta, 14-12

Ontario def. New Brunswick, 7-6

Saturday, July 9

Third-Place playoffs (mini-games)

Ontario def. Manitoba, 13-12

New Brunswick def. Manitoba, 13-3.

New Brunswick def. Ontario, 15-12

Gold Medal Game

Alberta def. Saskatchewan, 36-12

Final standings:

1. Alberta

2. Saskatchewan

3. New Brunswick

4. Ontario

5. Manitoba

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