By Gordie
Howe Sports Complex staff
Gordie Howe Sports Complex
Saskatoon
Minor Football Field might have seen one of its greatest “Friday Night Lights”
games ever.
Aulain Penner (#26) and Samuel LaFreniere (#22) shake hands.
When people
remember the 2024 high school football season in Saskatoon, the Saskatoon
Secondary Schools Athletic Directorate’s 6A City Championship game will go down
as the most memorable moment of the campaign. That contest was played on the
night of Friday, November 1.
It featured
the St. Joseph High School Guardians taking on the Holy Cross High School
Crusaders. The squads featured the two most exciting high school players in the
city in running back Samuel LaFreniere of the Guardians and tailback Aulain
Penner of the Crusaders.
The two
sides engaged in two regular season meetings with Holy Cross taking both those
encounters. The Crusaders claimed a 29-28 victory on October 4 and 48-35
triumph on October 17.
In the
November 1 clash for the city title, LaFreniere scored the winning touchdown
with 3:54 remaining in the fourth quarter to ultimately give the Guardians a
38-34 victory. The Crusaders mounted one last long final drive to go back
ahead, but they ultimately turned the ball over on downs with less than 40
seconds to play.
Aulain Penner cuts into an open lane for the Crusaders.
LaFreniere
and Penner were heroic in the city final. LaFreniere ran the ball 25 times for
305 yards and four touchdowns. Penner carried the ball 29 times for 305 yards
and three major scores to go with one pass reception for eight yards.
Our lead
photo of this photo roundup shows the two warriors shaking hands and having a
quick visit following the city title contest. Penner is in the centre left and
LaFreniere is centre right.
The second
photo sees Penner breaking downfield for one of his long gains on that November
1 night. The third photo shows LaFreniere taking off on one of his long jaunts
from that game.
Along with photos
from the championship encounter between the Guardians and Crusaders, we have
more pictures from high school football and photos from the CJFL’s PFC final
between the Saskatoon Hilltops and Regina Thunder. 
Samuel LaFreniere jets downfield for the Guardians.
We also have baseball and
softball training session pics from the Indoor Training Centre.
The pictures in this photo roundup capture some of the memories that are made on our grounds.
In this photo roundup, all of these pictures were taken by our
Communications Coordinator in Darren Steinke.
Without
further ado, here is a selection of 15 shots we hope you enjoy.
Up and away
Evan Hardy Collegiate Souls running back Lucas Dean jumps through the arms of a couple of Bedford Road Collegiate Redhawks players on October 10 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The Souls held a 32-24 lead in the second half and closed the contest on a 19-point surge for a 51-24 victory.
Ready and waiting
Fun entrance
Saskatoon Hilltops mascot Topper found a new way to take the turf at Saskatoon Minor Football Field on October 20. Topper took the field riding on the back of an ATV before the start of the PFC final between the Hilltops and Regina Thunder. The Thunder would claim the contest 24-19.
MVP set to sling
Saskatoon Hilltops quarterback Trey Reider (#3) sets to fire a pass behind the protection of left tackle Davin Johnson in the CJFL’s PFC final on October 20 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. For the 2024 CJFL season, Reider was named the most valuable player, the offensive player of the year and most outstanding quarterback for the PFC. He also claimed honours as a PFC all-star and a first team CJFL all-Canadian all-star. The Hilltops fell in the PFC final 24-19. Reider completed 23-of-41 passes for 305 yards and one touchdown, while throwing one interception for the Hilltops. He ran the ball nine times for 102 yards in his final CJFL contest.
Off and running
Running back Sadik Sadik charges downfield for the Regina Thunder during the PFC final on October 20 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Sadik, who was playing out his final season of CJFL eligibility, played a big role in helping the Thunder post a 24-19 victory over the Saskatoon Hilltops. He carried the ball 28 times for 178 yards and two touchdowns. The Thunder piled up 321 yards rushing as a team.
Repetitions make perfect
A player makes a throw taking part in an infield drill during a Going Yard Baseball Academy training session on October 22 at the Indoor Training Centre. The instructors at Going Yard ensure players get lots of repetitions in drills so players perform skills like it is second nature during games.
Tracking down a fly ball
A player settles under a fly ball during a Going Yard Baseball Academy training session on October 22 at the Indoor Training Centre. Going Yard has been a mainstay at the Complex since March 1, 2019, and the players and instructors have enjoyed being able to do outfield drills during the winter months due to the high ceiling at the facility.
Saints reclaim SSSAD 5A title
The Bishop James Mahoney High School Saints celebrate reclaiming the Saskatoon Secondary Schools Athletic Directorate’s 5A City Football Championship on October 25 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The Saints downed Aden Bowman Collegiate Bears 42-6 in the city title game. The Saints last won the 5A championship in 2022, while Aden Bowman claimed the 5A crown in 2023.
Big catch in traffic
A Knoll Panthers receiver makes a catch against a pair of Schoenals Titans defenders during a KFL Hilltops Division semifinal contest on October 27 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The Titans would prevail in this contest and ultimately win the championship for the Hilltops Division.
Celebrating good times
A receiver with the Schoenals Titans celebrates a touchdown with his teammates rushing to meet him in the end zone on October 27 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The Titans would prevail in this KFL Hilltops Division semifinal contest and ultimately win the championship for the Hilltops Division.
Escaping to the open field
A Mercury receiver slips past a Sparks defender during Toon Squad Female Flag Football League action on October 28 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The players on circuit, which is run by Saskatoon Minor Football, play the game at a very high level and make lots of exciting and athletic plays.
Mystics take Toon Squad title
The players and coaches of the Mystics are all smiles as they pose for the customary team picture after winning the championship of the Toon Squad Female Flag Football League on October 28 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The Mystics edged out the Sparks 13-7 in the circuit’s title game.
Guardians bask in epic title win
The St. Joseph High School Guardians bask in their epic 38-34 victory over the Holy Cross High School Crusaders in the Saskatoon Secondary Schools Athletic Directorate’s 6A City Football Championship game on November 1. The Guardians had a moment under the “Friday Night Lights” of Saskatoon Minor Football Field they will remember forever.
Working for that sweet swing
A player from the Saskatoon Selects program works on her swing during a practice session at the Indoor Training Centre on November 6. The Selects players find it is never too early to work on skills in the off-season and just enjoy being in the game of fast pitch softball.
Beating the throw for the double
The Saskatoon Selects concluded their training session on November 6 at the Indoor Training Centre with a simulated game. A base runner here beats out a throw from the outfield sliding into second base for a double.
