The Muskies clinched first place–and home-field advantage in the NorWOSSA final Nov. 4–with a convincing 49-28 win over the Kenora Broncos here last Friday afternoon.
The black-and-gold struck first in the opening quarter when Jock Gemmell hauled in a touchdown pass from quarterback Gary Wager to make it 7-0 (Adam McTavish kicked the convert).
Scott Witherspoon then ran in for his first touchdown of the game to give the Muskies a 14-0 bulge (McTavish again got the convert) heading into the second quarter.
Early in the second frame, the Broncos got a single to make it 14-1 but the Muskies quickly stormed back when McTavish scored for a 21-1 lead (he also booted the convert).
Then he ran 70 yards for a touchdown with less than two minutes to go in the half to put the Muskies up 28-1 (he again kicked the convert).
But Bronco quarterback Eric Morris scored Kenora’s first touchdown of the game (Chris Zrobak kicked the convert) to make it 28-8 at halftime.
The Muskie defence then stiffened in the third quarter, holding the Broncos scoreless while coming up with a safety for a 30-8 lead.
On offence, Witherspoon later ran in for his second major (converted by McTavish) before McTavish hauled in another touchdown pass to make it 43-8 (the extra point was missed).
The Broncos tried to make a game of it in the fourth quarter. First, Derrick Shelske ran the ball in twice to make it 43-20 (both convert attempts failed).
Morris later ran the ball in for a touchdown and then the two-point conversion to make it 43-28.
But the black-and-gold iced the game when Gemmell scored with just over five minutes left on the clock to make the final 49-28 (the extra point was missed).
Kenora closes out the regular season Friday against Dryden but will finish in second place regardless of the outcome, meaning they’ll be back here to face the Muskies in the league final a week from Saturday (Nov. 4).
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
