At some point the Central Cyclones know that their slow starts are going to hurt them.
Saturday wasn’t that day.
The Estevan Elecs stormed out to a 13-0 lead before the Cyclones scored four straight touchdowns for a 28-19 win in Moose Jaw High School Football League play.
“I don’t know what it is. I stressed to them all week that Estevan wasn’t coming here to lay one down for us,” said Cyclones head coach Colin Belsher. “We came out flat and Estevan came out playing hard. They made a couple of big plays and we were behind the eight-ball right off the start.
“I think these guys are starting to realize that when we get later into the season we have to play four quarters of football to be effective. We’ve been lucky enough to have excellent second halves and we’ve been successful that way. As the season goes on and it gets a little colder I don’t know if that’s going to work for us.”
Estevan nearly scored on their first drive of the game, but a great goal line stand by the Cyclones held them off of the scoreboard. It was only a matter of time however as Tyler Thiessen caught a 21-yard touchdown and Evan Tarnes caught a 36-yard touchdown to put the Elecs ahead 13-0.
Before the end of the half Cyclones quarterback Bren Forbes connected with Grade 10 receiver Parker Chow for the first of his three touchdowns on the day. Chow’s 26-yard major gave the Cyclones a little life heading into the break.
“Some emotional words from coach Belsher really helped,” said Chow of the second half turnaround.
“Me and Bren (Forbes) played together last year, but I was his back-up quarterback, so we have some chemistry.”
The Cyclones came out of half time on fire. Forbes scored on a four-yard run to give them the lead.
The Cyclones recovered a fumble off of the ensuing kickoff and 1:15 later Chow caught a 34-yard touchdown pass from Forbes.
Another Elecs fumbles, off of a great strip by Royce Hanna, gave the Cyclones good field position and Chow caught a 40-yard touchdown.
The 28-13 lead seemed safe until the Cyclones defence took some undisciplined penalties. The Cyclones defence had been playing an incredibly physical game, but the late penalties helped prolong an Elecs drive that led to a 27-yard Tarnes touchdown catch from Kolby Fleury.
Hanna broke up the two-point convert attempt and Central’s Dylan Pisio recovered the onside kick and the Cyclones held on for the win.
