Thunder triumph

By Kieran Reimer with files from Lana Meier

It was a championship game for the ages.

The Interlake Thunder varsity team claimed its third-ever Rural Manitoba Football League title Sunday in dramatic fashion, edging the St. Vital Mustangs 37–36 in a contest that went right down to the final seconds at Stonewall Collegiate Field.

“It’s awesome to win a championship, but I couldn’t think of a better group of guys to do it with, and so it just made it extra special,” said third-year head coach Christof Hasselfield.

It marked the third consecutive year the two teams have met for the RMFL championship, with the Mustangs taking both of the previous meetings.

The Thunder came out strong Sunday, building an early lead on first-half touchdowns from AJ Nadon and Jamie Dandeneau, helping them hold a 22–6 advantage midway through the third quarter.

But the Mustangs refused to back down, narrowing the gap to 29–22 with five minutes left in the third, and then to 29–28 three minutes later.

St. Vital carried that momentum into the fourth, taking its first lead of the game at 36–29 late in the quarter. With just four minutes to play, Interlake regained possession — but disaster struck when starting quarterback Jessie Batenchuk went down with an injury.

Grade 10 backup Colten Leger stepped in under pressure and led a drive for the ages. He got the ball into the hands of Nadon, Dylan Maclean and Dandeneau to keep the chains moving.

On third and long in the final minute, the Thunder ran a screen pass in which Leger found Maclean for a first down — and then more — as he made it all the way to the end zone, shocking the Mustangs’ defence.

“I knew if I could get the ball in my hands, I could at least get us the first down,” said Maclean. “We ran the play beautifully, the linemen blocked beautifully, our sophomore quarterback waited perfectly, dropped a dime piece to me, and from there we just ran it in. The boys were hyped and I was excited as ever. I was thankful Christof put his trust in me to make a play and it all worked out.”

The Maclean touchdown put the Thunder within a point, needing the convert to tie the game.

Hasselfield and company, however, had other plans.

They again surprised the Mustangs with an even gutsier play call, going for two points and the win instead of the extra point to tie it.

The Thunder executed perfectly, getting the ball to Trevin Smith, who powered across the goal line to give Interlake a 37–36 lead with under a minute to play.

Thunder kicker Marlo LaPierre then booted the ball deep on the ensuing kickoff, and Dandeneau made a key tackle to pin the Mustangs deep in their own zone.

St. Vital managed to drive into Thunder territory, aided by an interception that was called back due to a flag earlier in the play.

Against a 59-km/h crosswind, the Mustangs attempted a punt on the game’s final play in hopes of pinning the Thunder in the end zone for a single point.

The kick, however, veered out of bounds, sealing the third RMFL title in Thunder varsity history.

“Christof said that if we didn’t have the Mustangs in the end, it would have felt kind of like we were missing something in the championship — and I agree with him fully,” said Nadon. “For us to win it in our final year after losing when I started in Grade 10 — and we lost every year to the Mustangs — it was easily the most stressful but exciting situation in my life, to be honest.”

Nadon’s Thunder career now comes to an end, but he’ll go out on top as a champion, remembered for his many touchdowns — including two in Sunday’s final.

What will also be remembered is the game-winning drive led by the Grade 10 Leger, who despite being the backup, stayed ready if called upon — something he did a couple of times this season.

“Shades of Week 1 when he came in relief in the second quarter,” said Hasselfield. “Even before that final touchdown to Dylan (Maclean), I asked him, ‘Hey, do you know the play?’ And he goes, ‘Yeah, I know it.’ He was confident. That’s one thing about Colten — he’s just sort of unflappable. He’s laser-focused in, and whatever he’s been asked to do, he’s going to do it, so he was rock steady.”

With the win, the Thunder now have championships in 2008, 2018 and 2025 at the varsity level.

It’s the first RMFL title of Hasselfield’s career, who has now reached the finals in each of his three years as head coach.

He made sure to credit his staff, including team manager Jennifer Samborski and Thunder vice-president of football operations Kris Johnston.

“It’s a team win — through the players, the coaches, the parents, everything — and it’s great,” said Hasselfield. “I can’t think of a better team that deserves it more or worked harder for it, so just elated overall.”

The Thunder closed out the season undefeated at 9–0. Next up for the club are the team awards, scheduled for the end of November.