The Royals got back on track Friday night, wrapping up their regular season in dominant fashion with a 28-6 victory over the North Battleford Vikings. The win improves the Royals’ record to 3-1, securing a home playoff game this Friday at 3:45 p.m. against the St. Mary’s Marauders from Prince Albert.
Determined to bounce back and build momentum heading into playoffs, the Royals came out strong on both sides of the ball. The defense turned in yet another stellar performance, limiting the Vikings to a single touchdown late in the third quarter, the only blemish in an otherwise airtight effort.
Offensively, the Royals used a two-quarterback system to great effect, with both Hawkley Derinewski and Garrett Gordon connecting for touchdown passes. Derinewski struck first, finding Lane Robertson in the first quarter to open the scoring.
Shortly after, a key defensive play by Keegan Westeringh, who recovered a Vikings fumble, gave the Royals excellent field position. Though the ensuing drive ended with a missed field goal, Derinewski bounced back quickly, hitting Cooper Ogden for a touchdown early in the second quarter to put the Royals ahead 14-0 at the half.
Garrett Gordon took over to start the second half, leading a methodical drive capped by a six-yard touchdown run from Corben Wegman. Gordon would later seal the victory in the fourth quarter with a 28-yard touchdown pass to Blake Granatier, putting the game out of reach.
With the win, the Royals not only finish the regular season on a high note but also earn the right to host a playoff game on home turf at Wilson Field. The team extends a heartfelt thank-you to the fans who traveled to North Battleford and hopes to see a strong home crowd this Friday as they begin their playoff run.
Kickoff is set for 3:45pm.; let’s pack the stands and support the Royals!
ABOVE: The Martensville Royals travelled to North Battleford to compete in their final regular season game on Thursday, October 9th. They came out on top with a score of 28-6, which earned them a home playoff game, taking place this week. The regular season ended with a total of 3 wins and 1 loss for the Royals. (Martensville Royals Football Club)
