(File photo/northeastNOW)

By Cam Lee

Football final

Melfort Comets and Tisdale Tornadoes to clash for provincial football supremacy

Nov 8, 2024 | 1:00 PM

It’s a huge Highway 3 showdown for the 4A 9-man high school football championship this weekend.

The Melfort Comets, who enter the game undefeated this season, will host the Tisdale Tornadoes for the title, who are making their first provincial final appearance in over four decades.

The two teams met twice in the regular season, with Melfort winning 48-14 and 60-29. They were Tisdale’s only losses on the year.

Tisdale head coach Keenan Carrier told northeastNOW they have been focusing on getting better each game. The Tornadoes beat Melville and Delisle on the road in the playoffs and are now heading to Melfort for the championship.

“We’re a big effort team, and that effort was on full display on Saturday when we played against Delisle,” Carrier said. Tisdale won in a 38-37 nailbiter.

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Carrier said effort and accountability will also be keys for them in the final.

“We need to be accountable to each other, accountable to this team, and really everything you do you do for the person beside you.”

He said the team has been doing the little things right as they approach Saturday’s game, and when you do that success follows.

The excitement for the Tornadoes is evident throughout Tisdale, and Carrier thanks the community and the players’ parents for their spirit.

“The whole community and the whole town, they just have a big buzz around them and it’s definitely an exciting time to be here in Tisdale.”

Melfort Comets head coach Dave Rogers told northeastNOW the team can’t get too excited to play, and just need to focus on being themselves.

“When you get to this time in the season, all of the teams are really good,” said Rogers. “Tisdale’s had a heck of a season; they climbed up the other side of the (playoff) bracket.”

Rogers said the Comets have to focus on doing the little things right, and limit mistakes and turnovers.

“We’ve done a really good job in taking care of the ball this season in all of our games, and that’s something we’ve continued to emphasize this week of practice.”

Even though Melfort is the host for Saturday’s game, he knows there will be plenty of Tisdale supporters making the trip down Highway 3 to cheer on their team.

“I expect this will be the biggest crowd that we’ve seen at a football game in a long, long time,” said Rogers. He added this is Tisdale’s first time in a provincial final in 43 years and he expects the crowd to be large and loud, with fans of both teams on hand to make a lot of noise.

As mentioned, the teams played twice during the regular season and are in the same conference.

Carrier said both teams are very familiar with each other but it’s important to prepare for the game like Melfort is the same as every other opponent.

“It’s nice to have some film on them and have some prior against them this season so we definitely know what their strengths are and maybe some weaknesses,” said Carrier. “They’re doing film study as well and they know who we are so they’re definitely going to be looking at some of our strengths and weaknesses as well.”

Rogers said they’re quite familiar with each other as opponents, which is both a blessing and a curse.

“At this time of season, it’s sometimes hard to come up with new things that the opponent hasn’t seen.”

Kickoff on Saturday is at 1 pm.

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Cam.lee@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @northeastNOW_SK