THERE was nothing special about the play, other than the fact it broke the Potter Division semifinal between the St. Paul's Crusaders and Kelvin Clippers wide open.
The Winnipeg High School Football League AAA powerhouses were tied 11-11 at the half, when early in the third, Scott Naujoks grabbed hold of a Nicholas Cobb pass and romped 65 yards down the sideline for the touchdown that put the Crusaders ahead to stay.
The teams exchanged touchdowns the rest of the way, and St. Paul's went on to defeat Kelvin 25-18.
"We just kind of took advantage of one little opening," said Naujoks, a two-year veteran with St. Paul's. "I made the move, and my linemates gave me good protection. It felt great, and there was no one in front of me.
"But Kelvin didn't roll over on us," Naujoks went on. "They gave us a fight, that's for sure."
St. Paul's also got touchdowns from Danny Militano (75-yard reception) and Chad Okumura (40-yard run). Christian Hansen kicked a 39-yard field goal, a convert and a single and Ivasyk Chabluk added two converts.
"We got basically what we expected," said Crusaders coach Stacy Dainard. "They also made us work for the win in Week 2, so we knew what we were getting when we drew Kelvin in the semifinal.
"Those two scores we got in the third quarter (Naujoks and Okumura) absolutely helped us, and then we were able to hang on."
The Clippers scored its first touchdown on a fake field goal that saw Cody Kennerd take a pass from Colton Farago. Kennerd then caught a pass for a two-point convert.
Earlier, Kennerd kicked a 30-yard field goal. The Clippers scored again in the fourth on a seven-yard run by Braxton McIntosh and Tyson Farago kicked the convert.
The Crusaders earned the right to face the Churchill Bulldogs for the AAA Anavets Bowl on Nov. 10 at 7:30 p.m. at Canad Inns Stadium.
Five touchdowns, two along the ground and three through the air, by Riley Coates vaulted the Bulldogs to a 52-7 thrashing of the Grant Park Pirates in the other Potter semifinal.
Brett MacFarland scored the Pirates only touchdown by returning a fumble six yards.
VIDRUK DIVISION (AA)
Garden City Gophers 36 St. Paul's (2) Crusaders 29
It was a barn burner over at St. Paul's field earlier in the day, but the Gophers were able to emerge victorious and live to face the Sturgeon Heights Huskies in the Canad Inns Bowl final on Nov. 10 at 2:30 p.m.
Eric Harder caught a pair of TD passes from quarterback Ryan Ozunko, from 13 and 29 yards, to lead the offence for the Gophers.
Also scoring majors for the North End school were Dylan Dutka, Dempsey Esquosh and Nation Koswin while Peter Magro had a field goal and three converts.
The Crusaders got touchdowns from Brad McGregor, Tirell Naradeella, Sean Morantz and Stephen Spikula.
In the Currie Division, the Portage la Prairie Trojans and Murdoch McKay Clansmen qualified on Thursday to play for the Free Press Bowl on Nov. 10 at 5 p.m.
Portage defeated Sisler (2) 28-3 in one semi and Murdoch McKay stopped Kildonan East 29-9 in the other.
allan.besson@freepress.mb.ca