CJFL: Colts beat Hilltops on Broom field goal

Kicker Marshal Broom split the uprights from 42 yards with 16 seconds left to give the Colts a thrilling 32-30 road win over two-time defending national champion Saskatoon Hilltops at Gordie Howe Bowl to open the Prairie Football Conference schedule.

“You live for that situation but as soon as you get there you wish you weren’t in it,” Broom joked.

“You just have to go out and look at it like any other kick and do what you can do.”

The Colts return to McMahon Stadium for their home opener Sunday, Aug. 19. They host the Regina Thunder at 1 p.m.

The win brought in the John Stevens era in memorable fashion. Stevens took over as Colts head coach last winter.

“It’s the first time our program has defeated the Hilltops in seven years,” Stevens said. “It’s an obvious monkey off our back.

“This is two points that not everyone in our conference is going to get, when they come here to play.”

Tom Shockey’s two-yard touchdown put the Hilltops on top 30-29 with two minutes remaining after a diving catch by Kyle McInnis on third-and-four kept a 90-yard drive alive.

Jimmy Ralph’s second touchdown of the afternoon, on a 40-yard pass-and-run, gave the Colts a 29-23 advantage with 9:51 remaining.

It was Ralph’s first football game since he played the Alberta provincial high school final for the Raymond Comets in November 2010. He had been on mission for his church prior to coming to the Colts.

“I had a post route and I felt like I was open but I couldn’t see our quarterback (Derek Cooper); he’s just a little guy,” Ralph said.

“He got freed up and put it right on my numbers and I just took off.”

The Colts offence jumped all over the Hilltops in the first half and led 22-7 after the first 30 minutes.

Chucks Okafor scored first from one yard out with 3:14 to go in the opening quarter. Ralph then grabbed a one-yard pass from Cooper with 8:12 remaining in the second quarter to make it 14-0.

Ralph’s score was set up by runs of 24 yards by Cooper and 13 by Okafor.

Jeremy Long took over at QB on short yardage to dive in from two yards out for a 21-7 advantage with just under three minutes left in the half. Broom later added a punt single.

The Hilltops got back in the game in the third on a pair of five-yard scoring runs from Andre Lalonde to close the gap to 22-20 with 6:10 remaining in the quarter.

Zach Schmidt’s 11-yard field goal put the Hilltops ahead 23-22 at the start of the fourth.

Tickets for next week’s home opener will be available at the eastside of the stadium. They are $12 for adults, $8 for seniors and students with children under 12 admitted free.