Carlton's Zane Litzenberger (#11) is tackled by a defender during a 5A SHSAA Provincial semi-final matchup against Moose Jaw Central at Max Clunie Field in Prince Albert on Nov. 1, 2025. (Logan Lehmann/paNOW)

By Logan Lehmann

High School Football

Carlton falls to MJ Central in provincial semi finals

Nov 1, 2025 | 5:09 PM

The high school football season came to an end for the Carlton Crusaders on Saturday afternoon at Max Clunie Field.

The Cru dropped their SHSAA 5A Provincial semi-final contest 31-24 to the Central Cyclones from Moose Jaw. The loss ends Carlton’s hopes of repeating as provincial champions after winning it all last year.

Crusader head coach Lindsay Strachan said it could have gone either way.

“That’s two good football teams going at it. Hats off to Moose Jaw, that’s a physical and a well-coached team, you know, it’s a one-score game at the end, and we just happened to be on the wrong side of it.”

Carlton led the game 14-3 at one point early in the game, before Central began to rally for three straight unanswered touchdowns to take a 24-14 lead at the start of the fourth.

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Zane Litzenberger got the Crusaders back on track on the following drive with a field goal to end the scoreless drought and make it 24-17. After Tucker Prodaehl stole the ball out of the hands of the Cyclones ball carrier, a Central defender managed to intercept a deep pass attempt a few plays later.

That set up Reid Wiess to rumble his way to the endzone for his second touchdown of the afternoon, extending the visitors lead to 31-17.

As the clock struck zero, Prodaehl hauled in a short pass from Colm Phillips for the final touchdown of the season, as Central moves onto the 5A provincial finals with a 31-24 win.

“It’s always tough to gauge when you’re out of conference and you’re looking at film, right?”, continued Stachan. “They definitely looked athletic and well coached, good football players. [It was] a good battle today.”

He added that there was nothing to hang their heads about this season, and that everyone should be proud of their accomplishments. For the seniors, he thanked them for their contributions to the program and is looking forward to seeing them out and about in the community.

With the win, Central will face off with the F.W. Johnson Wildcats from Regina after they defeated Saskatoon’s Bishop James Mahoney 12-7 in Regina. That game will be played at 1 p.m. on Nov. 8 in Moose Jaw.

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loganc.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com