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| Ron Filteau holds the WWCFL title trophy for the Valkyries team picture. |
On Saturday, the Valkyries downed the host Regina Riot 25-3
to capture their first league title since 2016 and sixth WWCFL championship
since the team first hit the field in 2011.
The Riot entered Saturday’s game
looking for their third straight league championship having won the WWCFL title
in 2017 and 2018.
The Valkyries were playing to honour the memory of their
late defensive position coach Justin Filteau, who died in a plane crash on June
1. After learning about Filteau’s passing, the Valkyries dedicated their 2019
season to their late coach.
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| Sam Matheson (#22) jets off on a 16-yard touchdown run. |
“This feels
unreal, especially with everything that has happened this year, the adversity
our team has experienced and overcome on this field,” said sixth-year defensive
back Ehjae Chan. “It means so much like more than words can even express.
“For us to
be here to have played in this game and pulled through, we really felt coach
(Justin) Filteau here today. This game was 100 per cent for him. I think for us
it just felt fitting.”
The Valkyries improved to 8-0 overall with the win.
They
still have one more exhibition game this coming Saturday at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor
Football Field against the Montreal Blitz, who play
out of a women’s league in the United States.
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| Haley Girolami makes a tough sidelines catch. |
The Riot, who won two straight road playoff games to make the
WWCFL final, finished off with a 3-4 overall mark.
Valkyries quarterback Alex Eyolfson, who was named her team’s
MVP for the title game, said she couldn’t find the words to adequately say how
she felt regarding all that her squad had to persevere through.
“It is just
amazing,” said Eyolfson. “It is a great feeling.
“Everyone
just has so much heart on this team. It just showed today at the end. We just
pushed through and got it for Filteau.”
The Valkyries actually closed their WWCFL regular season
schedule one day after Filteau’s sudden passing on June 2 at Mosaic Stadium
against the Riot. Saskatoon prevailed in that contest 22-7.
“When we
found out about Justin’s passing, we were playing our last regular season game
here on June second, and it was a challenge,” said Valkyries head coach Pat
Barry. “I had never been involved in anything like that.
 |
| Ehjae Chan (#24) celebrates a fourth quarter interception. |
“I will
remember it all of my days.”
Saturday’s clash was a typical physical affair that
traditionally occurs between the Valkyries and Riot. The defences on both sides
force their share of turnovers.
The Valkyries ultimately made their takeaways count scoring
24 points off turnovers.
Saskatoon went ahead 1-0 early in the first quarter on a
40-yard punt single from Rienna Rueve.
In the second quarter, Valkyries rookie defensive back Kori
Herner intercepted Riot star quarterback Aimee Kowalski.
The Valkyries turned that turnover into a short scoring
drive that was capped by a four-yard touchdown run by star running back Sam
Matheson to give the visitors an 8-0 edge.
Near the end of the second quarter, Chan intercepted
Kowalski and made a long run back into Regina’s end of the field.
A short drive
resulting from that turnover ended with Rueve hitting a 15-yard field goal to
give the Valkyries an 11-0 lead with 14 seconds remaining before halftime.
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| Valkyries LB Beth Lalonde sacks Riot QB Aimee Kowalski. |
“As a DB,
anytime you get to have an interception it’s really meaningful, especially when
it kind of changes the tide of the game,” said Chan. “Our whole team has been
playing unreal.
“Our
defence, we were working together, so I feel like that was just a reflection of
how well our defence was playing as a unit. I just happened to get to take the
glory for that moment, but it was really the whole team working together to
make that happen.”
Early in the third quarter, the Riot appeared to seize the
momentum, when defensive end Jessie Noname blocked a punt and recovered the
ball at Saskatoon’s 34 yard line.
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| QB Alex Eyolfson (#15) threw for 200 yards for the Valkyries. |
That series ended with Krenbrink hitting a field goal from 20
yards out to cut the Valkyries lead to 11-3.
In the fourth quarter, the Valkyries got the ball on their
own 45 yard line after stopping the Riot on a third down gamble.
Saskatoon proceeded to drive the ball downfield for a
scoring march that was capped by a one-yard sneak by short-yardage quarterback
Reed Thorstad. Thorstad’s score gave the visitors an 18-3 lead with 6:47
remaining on the clock.
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| The Valkyries held Reed Thorstad (#12) up after she scores a touchdown. |
Chan made her second interception of the contest on the
ensuring Riot offensive series to cap the Valkyries victory.
“It is
always nice to come and battle,” said Chan, who had three tackles to go with
her two interceptions. “We always have great games when we play the Riot.
“We
appreciate that, because football is more fun when it is a challenge and you
aren’t sure what is going to happen. Obviously, it is great. We’re so proud of
the football community in Saskatchewan.
“Obviously,
we love keeping it (the WWCFL championship) in the province and battling it
out.”
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| Valkyries head coach Pat Barry gets the ice bucket shower. |
Matheson had a monster game for the Valkyries running the
ball 21 times for 176 yards to go with her two scores.
Eyolfson, who was named her team’s MVP for the game,
completed 13-of-27 passes for 200 yards with one interception. Valkyries rookie
receiver Haley Girolami led all pass catchers with six catches for 65 yards,
which included a key 24-yard sideline catch in the fourth quarter.
“We had a
great group of receivers this year,” said Eyolfson. “I think it was probably
like one of the strongest years we’ve had as an offence for sure.
“We’ve
played flag before, so it is good. I can connect with them. I know how they
run.”
The Riot were limited to 199 yards of total offence as a
team. Kowalski completed 14-of-37 passes with four interceptions.
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| Ron Filteau, centre, gets emotional from a warm greeting by the Valkyries. |
Defensive tackle Brittany Boschman was named the game MVP
for the Riot making 3.5 tackles and recovering one fumble.
Barry spoke to Justin Filteau’s mom, Nancy, before the
contest and she said to tell the players to have fun. The side boss reminded
his players of that bit of advice at halftime, and he thought they were more
upbeat with how they played in the second half.
With all the Valkyries had to go though, Barry was overjoyed to see his team win the WWCFL title.
With all the Valkyries had to go though, Barry was overjoyed to see his team win the WWCFL title.
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| The Valkyries raise the WWCFL championship trophy. |
“I am so
proud of these athletes. I am really excited for them. They had a great day.”
If you have any
comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them
to stankssports@gmail.com.
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