The Swift Current Comp Colts football team utilized a balanced second-half attack Thursday night to move to 2-0 on the season.

Swift Current defeated the visiting Moose Jaw Vanier Vikings 28-1 in their annual Thursday Night Lights game at Colts Field.

It wasn't all as smooth as the final score may have seemed for the Colts, who led just 7-1 at the half.

Swift's score came halfway through the first quarter, when rookie running back Shane Friesen rumbled over the goalline for his first touchdown as a Colt. Ethan Kurtz split the uprights for the convert.

"We had a pretty sharp and blunt message at the half with the guys about where we thought we needed to tighten some things up," said Colts head coach Derek Murdoch on a bit of a sloppy half all-around for the team. "We were much better about playing better defensively, making some tackles, and we were a little better with the discipline too. Everything was kind of better in the second half. That's what we asked them to work towards, and that's what we got."

Coming out of half time, the Colts kicked it into another gear over the final two quarters.

Friesen scored his second rushing touchdown of the game just 1:28 into the third quarter, and another Kurtz convert made it 14-1.

Then, with zeroes on the clock at the end of the third quarter, defensive back Layne Cadrain picked off the Vikings' quarterback, breaking free from multiple Vanier players, finding the endzone for the pick-six.

Listen in to the call from Colin Powers during the live broadcast on The Eagle 94.1:

Layne Cadrain shakes off one of several Vikings to take an interception to the house (photo by Eric James)


 

It was one of three interceptions by the Colts' defence in the game.

Up 21-1 after another Kurtz extra point, the Colts finally found the endzone in the passing game.

With starting quarterback Austin Beverly-Collins out of the game, rookie backup Carter Moberg found rookie receiver Rhett Vavra in the endzone on the 11-yard pass for the touchdown, and the final score of the game.

After Vavra shone in the opener against Moose Jaw Peacock where he caught seven passes for 100+ yards and two touchdowns, it was the team's rookie running back that shouldered the workload this time.

Friesen finished with 97 yards on 14 carries, and the pair of touchdowns.

Friesen performed admirably for the Colts in a game they looked to jump start their ground game (photo by Eric James)


 

"I got the ball, executed the plays, and just drove when I needed to," he said about the somewhat simple plan of attack. "Our O-line is amazing - they pass-blocked very well, just had to open up some holes, and we got right through to the endzone."

Meanwhile under centre, Beverly-Collins finished Thursday's game 7-of-13 through the air for 96 yards.

Receiver Nolan Klein was the top target on the night, catching two passes for a team-high 43 yards.

The Colts have now out-scored opponents 49-7 to start the season.

Next up is yet another short week for the Colts.

After having just five days to prep for Week 2 after their opener, the Colts have that same time frame to get ready for Game 3.

Swift Current will get set to welcome the Weyburn Eagles to Colts Field this coming Tuesday.

"Well we'll go through film tomorrow after school, and then we'll have our one Sunday practice of the year that we're allowed to, just because of the timeline," said Murdoch of a tight schedule. "Not a lot of time, and there won't be a lot of changes. Just try and sharpen things up, just work on being ready to go early, and just being smart."

The Colts and Eagles kick off September 18 at 4 p.m.