Though it maybe wasn't the way he wanted his High School career to end, Warriors receiver Caiden Gruending did find the endzone on two big plays in the game (Photo: Shaun Penner)

By Shaun Penner

Provincial Playoffs

Titans too much for Warriors in North Region final

Nov 16, 2019 | 4:39 PM

The Grande Prairie Composite Warriors weren’t able to overcome the Harry Ainley Titans and get to the Alberta Bowl Final.

Warriors QB Liam Kroeger and WR Caiden Gruending connected for two touchdowns in the second half, but it wasn’t enough as they fell 48-20 to the Titans at CKC Field Saturday afternoon in the Tier I High School Football North Region final.

The Warriors were held scoreless in the first half, with the Titans taking a 22-0 lead after the first two quarters of play.

Ainley would score on the opening drive of the second half as well, taking a 29-0 lead. The Warriors would get on the board right after that though, with a kick return TD of their own early in the third to make it 29-6.

The Edmonton-based Titans would then add a touchdown and a field goal to further extend their lead, before Kroeger, the top QB and Rookie of the Year in the Mighty Peace Football League this season, would find his top target in Gruending for a 38-yard score, cutting the lead to 39-12 after the third.

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The highlight of the game came as the siren sounded at the end of the fourth, where Kroeger and Gruending connected on a last ditch effort, and the senior wideout shed Titan tacklers to take it 91 yards to the house, putting a close to both the Warriors season and Gruending’s high school career.

The Titans will now move on to the Alberta Bowl Final next Saturday in Raymond, to face either the L.C.I. Rams from Lethbridge, or the St. Francis Browns out of Calgary.