The Hunting Hills Lightning put the finishing touches on Football Day in Red Deer in style Saturday.
The Lightning captured the Central Alberta High School Football League title, and ran their record to 10-0, with a thrilling 36-30 six overtime victory over the Camrose Trojans before over 600 fans at Great Chief Park.
The teams were tied 17-17 at the end of regulation after the Trojans scored 10 unanswered fourth-quarter points, including a touchdown with 46 seconds remaining when Skyler Rambeau grabbed a 13-yard pass from Scott Backus. Jon Heidebrecht, who had a field goal at 2:37 of the quarter, added his second convert.
Rambeau also scored the Trojans first major at 11:19 of the second quarter.
Stas McPhail and Jon Boutin had touchdowns for the Lightning with Tyler Lewis adding a field goal and two converts.
Lewis played a major role in the extra periods, which saw the teams take over from the 35-yard line. Lewis kicked field goals to tie the game in the third and fourth overtimes after Heidebrecht had put the Trojans ahead.
Both kickers missed field goals in the fifth overtime.
Boutin connected with Josh Loney on a 15-yard strike for what turned out to be winning touchdown in the sixth extra period. Tyler Rutherford picked off a Backus pass to put the lid on the victory.
Tylor Henry, on a 60-yard pass and run play with Backus, had the other Camrose major in the second overtime while McPhail scored for the Lightning on a four-yard run.
Heidebrecht and Lewis had the converts.
The win propelled the Lightning, who are ranked No. 1 in the province, into the Tier II provincial playoffs next Saturday in Calgary against second-ranked St. Mary’s.
• In bantam action at Great Chief Park, the Stettler Cougars downed the Lightning 6-4 in the Central Football League Tier III final.
The only four points the Lightning managed came on safeties.
The homestanding Lacombe Raiders came from behind to down the Olds Bulldogs 16-8 to win the league title and advance to the Tier II provincials.
Keegan Cooke had a touchdown and two two-point converts for the Raiders, who trailed 8-0 after three quarters.
Ashton Jones had the other Lacombe major with 56 seconds remaining in the game.
Roger Dye had a touchdown and Quaid Smith a two-point convert for Olds.
In the Tier IV final, the Sylvan Lake Lions beat the Titans 46-31 in Drumheller.
The Raiders open provincial play Saturday in Edmonton while the Cougars are in Calgary and the Lions host a team from Southern Alberta.
• In the Central Alberta Peewee League final and zone Tier III playoff at Great Chief Park, the Steelers downed the Hornets 48-0 in an all-Red Deer affair.
It was the second straight league title for the Steelers.
Cole Layden scored four touchdowns for the winner with Graydon Perrot and Ben Pasiuk adding single majors. Pasiuk also kicked six two-point converts.
The Steelers will open provincial play next Saturday in Calgary.