The Royals capped off their regular season in style with a 37-21 victory against the North Battleford Comprehensive High School Vikings on the road Friday night.
The game started with a bang as Aidan Low connected with Cam Kliewer for an electrifying 80-yard touchdown on a trick play, setting the tone for the evening. The Vikings quickly responded with a scoring drive, aided by an interception thrown by quarterback Hawkley Dereniwski. However, Dereniwski rebounded impressively, leading the Royals on back-to-back touchdown drives that pushed the score to 21-7.
As the first half neared its end, Low showcased his versatility by returning a punt 65 yards for a touchdown, extending the Royals’ lead to 28-7 at halftime. The Royals’ defense also put on a stellar performance, stifling the Vikings and forcing critical turnovers throughout the half.
The second half proved to be a tougher battle, with the Royals forcing a safety early in the third quarter to widen their lead to 30-7. North Battleford managed to score on a lengthy drive, capitalizing on some undisciplined penalties from the Royals. But just when momentum seemed to shift, Aidan Low returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown, restoring a commanding 23-point lead.
The Vikings fought back with an impressive eight-minute drive in the fourth quarter, bringing the score to 37-21. Nevertheless, the Royals effectively managed the clock, kneeling out the final moments to secure the victory and a home playoff game against the same Vikings squad this Friday at 4:00 PM.
With the regular season wrapped up and a playoff berth secured, the Royals will look to carry this momentum into the postseason as they aim for a championship run.