St. Joseph defeats Campbell in 6A prov. championships 52-16

The St. Joseph Guardians have won the 2024 provincial 6A football championship, defeating the Campbell Tartans 52-16 on Saturday.

The win was a big one for Saskatoon’s St. Joseph after losing the championship in 2022.

Coach Chad Palmer said that experience brought the team to victory.

“That’s what it takes in this sport, you got to build it,” he said. “You don’t just get to walk into your first game and win. Because we experienced that two years ago, I knew that we’d be ready to go for this game.”

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The game got off to a breezy start for St. Joseph, who scored a field goal and touchdown early in the game.

Unfortunately, the game ended early for Guardians middle linebacker Jack Baier, who was taken out of the game by EMS with a serious leg injury.

From receiving care from medical staff to EMS arriving on scene, the incident delayed the game for around 45 minutes.

I’m hearing from spectators that it’s a broken leg. Both teams have moved to opposite end zones to warm up. @CJMENews @CKOMNews pic.twitter.com/qE6OLqnz9x

— Nicole Garn (@garnnic) November 9, 2024

This gave the St. Joseph team more motivation to finish the job.

“I grouped the guys up and I said, ‘I know you’re already motivated, but if you don’t have enough motivation for the rest of this game, this is what we need right here. This is this is enough motivation go win it for Jack,'” Palmer said. “And they did.”

St. Joseph dominated the first two quarters of the game, going into halftime with a score of 17-0.

After St. Joseph got another touchdown at the beginning of the third quarter, Campbell finally responded with a touchdown of it’s own from senior Treysen Perras.

However, it wasn’t enough to hold St. Joseph back, who responded with another two touchdowns, one from Sam Larfeniere — who scored a total of three touchdowns in the game — and the other from Zak Cardell in the fourth quarter.

The final score was 52-16 for St. Joseph.

Palmer said both teams played a good game, despite what the scoreboard says.

“Yes, things went well for us, but they tested us,” he said. “Their offence scored 14 points, but they tested us the whole game. I think because of that it kept our guys on edge.”

St. Joseph quarterback Dawson Gusikoski was a playmaker on the field, scoring a touchdown of his own, running the ball and connecting with his teammates.

After the game, the victory hadn’t hit him.

“Words can’t describe I feel right now,” he said. “Ever since Grade 9, this is all I’ve ever wanted. Just watching the older guys play and now being able to finally be able to do it. It just means the world.”

Quarterback Dawson Gusikoski (third from right) is a senior with the St. Joseph Guardians. He’s proud of his team and says this is a moment he’ll never forget. (Nicole Garn/980 CJME)

This was his last time wearing the St. Joseph jersey, as he will graduate high school in the spring.

“It’s bittersweet,” he said. “I just still can’t describe it. I’m gonna cherish this moment forever, and this will be something I’ll never forget ever in my life.”

He plans to continue his football career into university.

Campbell disappointed but still proud

After winning against the Leboldus Golden Suns in the city high school championships earlier this month, Campbell was ready to take home the big prize.

It was Campbell Collegiate’s first championship since 2017, however, it’s defence wasn’t strong enough to hold St. Joseph back on Saturday.

Coach Kelly Adams is still proud of his team despite the outcome.

“These Grade 12s went through a winless season as Grade 10s, and worked really hard to get us to this point,” he said. “I feel bad we couldn’t get all the way across the finish line.”

The team is ready to regroup and come back even stronger next year.

“We got lots of really good Grade 10s and we got a lot of kids, and we just got to get to work and see if we can make it all the way back here again next year,” Kelly said.

Another senior hanging up his jersey is Campbell’s Colin Bueckert, who played on the team that went 0-6 in 2022.

“I’ve been on this team since Grade 10, when we were winless,” he said. “It’s great to see us come this far, but it also hurts that much more to, you know, lose at this stage.”

Despite the outcome, it’s a moment he won’t forget.

“I’m just proud of us for coming out and giving our all,” he said. “I love this team. I’m proud of us, no matter the outcome.”

Bueckert is eager to continue his football career and has committed to the University of Alberta Golden Bears.

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