Chuck Taylor
Journal Contributor
The St. Paul Lions put on a dominating performance, at home, knocking off the Cold Lake Royals to open the 2019 Wheatland Football League season.
From start to finish, the Lions threw their weight around and ruled all three facets of the game. The St. Paul team is large, both in numbers and size, with 41 players on the current roster and a couple recent transfers expected to join the team after the start of school.
“We have a great group of players. Usually there are one or two positions that are a little iffy, but not here. We have an athlete at every position and more to spare. We can put Dave Campeau in the backfield and the offensive line doesn't suffer a bit. This might be the strongest and is certainly the deepest group of linemen we have ever had,” said head coach Mark Tichkowsky.
The Lions' offence racked up five rushing touchdown, including a 51-yard scamper by Grade 12 student Braden Paziuk. St. Paul also dominated time of possession holding the ball 34 of the 48 minutes of play. Kyler Tichkowsky and Pazuik each scored two touchdowns and rushed for over 100 yards. The defence took the ball away multiple times and sacked the Royals' quarterback Joe Hamel six times. The special teams were also heard from blocking two punts and picking up a two-point conversion.
Lions' third-year quarterback Adam Berlinguette said, “We put on a full team effort. Everyone went out of did their job. That is St Paul football the team works together and we all do our jobs.”
St. Paul won the coin toss, and everything after that. The opening kickoff went out of bounds setting the Lions up with great field position on their 45. Fifteen plays and seven minutes later St. Paul found itself third and goal, from the Cold Lake four-yard line. Quarterback Ethan Boisclair handed off the ball to Tichkowsky, who put on a burst of speed to the outside blazing into the endzone to open the scoring.
It was then Cold Lake's turn, and they initially managed to move the ball getting three first downs before going for a deep pass which was broken up by rookie Josh Foote. On the next play the tide turned and the Royals started going backwards.
Blitzing halfback Malcolm Steeves and defensive end Jett Courtoreille crushed Royals' quarterback Joe Hamel for an big loss and the Lions' first sack of the year. Then on the next play, defensive end Campeau and linebacker Paziuk tackled Aden Pelley for another 15-yard loss. Lions' centre and middle linebacker Lane Peters blocked the ensuing punt and the Lions took over on the Royals' 34-yard line.
Four rushes later, the versatile Campeau smashed his way into the endzone to put the Lions up by two majors at the end of the first quarter.
“Campeau is like a 250lbs Swiss army knife. He plays offensive guard, defensive end, rumbling fullback and on a couple special teams” said Tichkowsky.
On their next possession offensive and defensive tackle Owen Nooskey knocked the ball from the hands of Cole Priestley which was then recovered by defensive end Brady Fodness. Paziuk carried it in a few plays later to put the Lions up by three touchdowns. St. Paul blocked a punt on the Royals' next possession and added a field-goal before halftime making the score 24-0.
After halftime, St. Paul started playing their backups but still succeeded in putting two more touchdowns on the board and picked up a two point conversion leading 38–0 going into the fourth quarter. The Royals finally managed to get on the scoreboard in the final minutes against a group of rookie Lions for a final score of 38-6.
The Lions will host the Westlock Thunderbirds Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. under the lights.
The Thunderbirds are 0-1 having lost 49-0 to the Lloydminster Composite Barons.
“Westlock plays a unique system and it is always a tough physically demanding game. We have a team motto 'Respect all, fear none' and we take that to heart,” said coach Tichkowsky.
In the other Wheatland game, the Bonnyville Voyageurs defeated the Wainwright Commandos 36-14. St. Paul faces off with the Voyageurs in Bonnyville Sept. 13.
