Tornadoes dominate Cyclones in season opener

Corey Atkinson
Moose Jaw Times-Herald
The Peacock Tornadoes started scoring early and continued scoring often in a 48-0 romp over the Central Cyclones to kick off the Moose Jaw High School Football league season Saturday at Gutheridge Field.
On the second play from scrimmage, Tornadoes quarterback Josh Huschi handed the ball off to Colby Pruden. He danced to the outside and ran 19 yards for the score.
"It was just all the team," said Huschi, who found Chad Sunde, Cody Rosnes and Brad Dunlop with touchdown passes in the first half. "The o-line did a great job of blocking and everyone ran their routes. I just hucked it up there and they ran onto it."
The Tornadoes came out strong in all areas of the game, particularly their first half offence and their special teams. The Tornadoes took advantage of Central's fumbles on punt and kick returns, and at times, didn't have to march the ball very far to score.
The focus and will to win was there from the start.
"We knew what we wanted to do and how we needed to do it," said Huschi, who finished the game 10-for-17 passing for 220 yards and no interceptions, and also kicked six of seven extra points. "We were on a mission to get it done."
The Cyclones graduated a lot of players from last year's city champions, including offensive stalwarts Riley Brydges, Tom Coakwell and Brandon Hasmatali.
"Nothing's wrong. We're new and young and they're experienced, and that's the difference at this time of year," said Cyclones coach Dave Roney. "There's good stuff in that and you build game to game. Guys make mistakes and we'll try and correct them and be better for the next game."
Cyclones quarterback Kahlen Branning displayed a strong arm passing the football, going 10-for-24 for 137 yards in the air.
"I thought he did a great job and I thought our line protected very well," Roney said, adding d- lineman Brandon Noseworthy also did a good job.
Roney attributed the fumbles his team had to a "lack of aggressiveness" and thinks it's something that can be better next game.
"Central's a young team . . . and I think we've all been there," said Tornadoes coach Blake Buettner. "We're just talking to our kids about getting better every week and looking at the things we did well and look at the things we can improve. We're still competing for spots in some places and we're looking for that effort from kids all season long and take it a game at a time."
Central's next game is against Vanier Saturday and Peacock will take on Calgary's EP Scarlett in an exhibition in Medicine Hat.