Playoff picture becoming clear in boys football

The contenders and pretenders are beginning to separate within the ranks of the SDSSAA Senior Boys Football League.

Both the St. Charles College Cardinals and Lively Hawks are at least two games up on the rest of the pack in the Bartolucci Division, while the Lo-Ellen Park Knights and Confederation Chargers are looking to pull away in the Forster grouping following action last week.

The Cards improved to 4-0 with a 41-7 beating of the St. Benedict Bears, with quarterback Nathan Scruton running for a pair of touchdowns and finding running back Djuwa Ngalamulume on the receiving end of another.

Matt Bell and Carter Struk also had majors along the ground for St. Charles, while defensive back Carlo Cercelli registered an interception that was returned for a touchdown, as the team prepares for a second showdown with Lively on Friday.

Jonah Harris wrapped up the scoring for the winners with four converts and a single, with St. Charles looking to duplicate an early-season 48-7 season domination of the Hawks in the rematch.

With Confederation and the Lockerby Vikings quite likely to wage the closest battle for a semi-final playoff spot, it was the Valley crew drawing first blood in the two-game set, upending the Vikes 29-2.

The Chargers defense showed the way, continually pressuring Lockerby pivot Cory Smith, while the offense featured Kyle Preseau with a pair of TDs, and Austin Pharand and Brett Boileau (fumble recovery in end zone) with one apiece.

The Knights padded their stats at the expense of the Bishop Carter Gators, posting a 70-0 whitewash as Malcolm Cain recorded four touchdowns, with Ashton White and Noah Skuce adding two each.

Darcy Labelle, Jeff Suitor and Pierce Wallingford all reached the end zone once, with Wallingford adding 11 points via the kicking game (10 converts and a single).

Finally, the Hawks took care of business against the Collège Notre-Dame Alouettes, outscoring their opponents 39-14 as Brandon Sasseville ran for a pair of TDs.

Thomas Rideout also reached the end zone twice, once along the ground and once through the air, with Noah Lagadin and Cameron Marshall rounding out the six-point scoring.

Keegan Prefontaine made good on three point after attempts, as Lively improved to 3-1, just back of St Charles at 4-0.