The Vanier Vikings came flying out of the gates on Saturday and earned their second win of the season.

The Vikings jumped out to a 28-0 lead early in the second quarter and went on to win 35-22 over the Central Cyclones in Moose Jaw High School Football League action at Gutheridge Field.

“Our team brought the energy today, I told them that we didn’t bring enough last week and everybody played so hard in the first half,” said Vanier quarterback Ryan Stefanvoic. “We brought so much energy today.”

Vanier opened with three touchdowns in a 6:28 span during the first quarter to take full control of the game. They rode that lead and the momentum for the rest of the game, scoring a key touchdown late in the third quarter to extend their lead to 35-14 heading into the fourth.

The win improves Vanier’s record to 2-1 on the year, while Central drops to 2-2.

“We challenged our o-line this week, we said that a lot of this game was going to depend on how they came out and extended and they rose to it, that first quarter is the best that we’ve executed our running game all year,” said Vikings head coach Ryan Gottselig. “It stalled out a bit on us at times, but certainly that start was awesome.”

Vanier running back Tyler Lorenz fights for extra yards near the goal line during Saturday's win over Central. (Photo: Marc Smith)

The Vikings opened the game by forcing the Cyclones to turn the ball over on downs deep in Vanier territory. Vanier drove back the other way and Cole Coroy punched in the opening touchdown on an 11-yard run.

On the ensuing kick-off, the Vikings would jump on a fumble at Central’s eight-yard line and running back Tyler Lorenz would quickly score another touchdown to make it 14-0 in a span of just 1:46.

Coroy scored his second touchdown of the first quarter with just 21 seconds left in the frame to make it a 21-0 lead for the Vikings.

A bad snap on a punt for Central would give Vanier the ball back deep in Central territory again early in the second quarter and they didn’t waste the chance with Stefanovic finding receiver Tanner Sanford for a 25-yard touchdown.

Central would get on the board midway through the second when C.J. Vincent caught a nine-yard touchdown.

The Cyclones would cut Vanier’s lead down to two scores with a three-yard touchdown run by running back Dawson Pearce midway through the third quarter, but the Vikings would answer back.

Stefanovic ran in from 18 yards out with 1:02 left in the third to put Vanier back up by three touchdowns and all but seal the win.

Vincent scored his second touchdown of the day as time expired to pull Central a little closer.

“When you give up four touchdowns in the first half like that and get behind the eight-ball, it’s pretty hard to come back from,” said Central head coach Colin Belsher.

“They’re a good team, they don’t have a lot of players on their team, but the ones they do work hard and they were a little more physical than us today and that’s something that we have to talk about at practice.”

Stefanovic led Vanier’s offence with 166 yards passing, 54 yards rushing, a passing touchdown and a rushing touchdown.

Coroy finished with 10 carries for 86 yards and two scores, while Lorenz had 48 yards on just six carries before leaving with an injury.

Central quarterback Ethan Johnson put together a big day passing, completing 11-of-21 passes for 294 yards and two touchdowns.

Pearce posted 73 yards rushing and a touchdown on 14 carries, while Vincent had eight catches for 72 yards and a touchdown. Riley Seaborn finished with six catches for 98 yards.

In other action on Saturday, Weyburn topped Estevan 41-20 for their first win of the season, while Yorkton rolled to a 65-13 win over Swift Current.

The league returns to the field this Saturday with Central hosting the 3-0 Yorkton Raiders at 1 p.m., while Vanier will welcome in the Swift Current Colts at 3:15 p.m.

The Peacock Tornadoes, who were on a bye this weekend, will put their 3-0 record on the line when they head to Estevan to face the Elecs on Saturday.