It was a trio of championship games Thursday for Winnipeg high school football.

The season ends with a final match to determine the best in the league.

The day started with the Tec Voc Hornets taking on the John Taylor Pipers. Both finished among the top teams in Division AAA with a 6-1 record.

The Hornets scored early in the first quarter to take a 7-0 lead and followed that up with a blocked punt returned for a second touchdown with just over three minutes left in the first quarter.

However, the Pipers responded just before the second quarter, returning a kickoff all the way to the end zone to make it a 14-8 game.

The Pipers got closer in the third quarter, scoring a field goal to make the score 15-11. But Tec Voc put that aside in the fourth, catching another TD.

They would win the championship with a 24-11 victory.

The Tec Voc Hornets won 24-11 to claim the Currie Bowl championship against the John Taylor Pipers on November 7, 2024. (Devon McKendrick/CTV News Winnipeg)

“Best feeling in the world to win the last game of the year,” Tec Voc head coach Ryan Karhut said.

He said the players wanted to improve after a disappointing end to last year’s season, and all the work paid off.

“I didn’t think it would happen in our second year,” he said. “We’ve been rockstars at our school the last couple of months. It’s just been an amazing environment. Everyone has joined our football team. Our guys are amazing.”

Tec Voc’s Noah Heppner was named the game’s MVP and said winning the championship was an incredible feeling.

“All the work paid off, I can’t explain how it feels right now,” Heppner said.

Although he was thrilled to be named MVP, he gave all the credit to his teammates.

“It’s everyone. It’s not just me. It’s everyone working. I try hard every game. I was MVP, but it’s everyone, it’s not is not just me.”

The JV9 final was the second match of the day. The Miles Mac Buckeyes face the Vincent Massey Vikings.

The Buckeyes finished the year undefeated, while the Vikings were right behind them in the standings with a 5-1 record.

These teams traded scores in the first half and went into halftime tied at 14.

However, the Vikings had an offensive explosion in the third and fourth quarters, winning four touchdowns, which were capped by a fake punt sent into the end zone.

That offensive production helped propel them to 40-16.

“We have some pretty special kids, fantastic coaches… every kid has had a moment here, under the lights of Bomber Stadium. It’s a special feeling,” Vikings head coach Gavin Young said.

“It’s exciting, it’s awesome. I can’t begin to describe it.”

Vincent Massey’s Vikings won the JV9 final against the Miles Mac Buckeyes 40-16 on November 7, 2024. (Devon McKendrick/CTV News Winnipeg)

The day ended with a heavyweight clash in the Anavets Championship. The Dakota Lancers vs. the Oak Park Raiders.

Going into the game, they were the two best teams in Winnipeg. Each team went undefeated – Oak Park allowing no points in the regular season, while Dakota only gave up eight.

Their starting quarterbacks also had special years, as they both broke the single-season passing touchdown record.

This match lived up to the hype as it was a defensive struggle with neither team willing to give an inch. At halftime the Lancers led 2-0 and by the end of the third quarter they had a narrow 4-3 lead.

The first major of the game didn’t come until less than a minute remained in the game, when the Lancers booted one into the end zone to secure the victory.

They won 11-3, making them back-to-back champions.

“I feel euphoric,” Lancers head coach Mitchell Harrison said. “I’m so proud of these kids.”

Being able to win back-to-back championships was something Harrison never thought could happen.

“In my wildest dreams I didn’t think it would turn out like this. I thought we could do something special with this program. Back to back with JV and Varsity, it’s amazing.”

Even though it was a low-scoring affair, Dakota quarterback Rogan Vergata said there was no better feeling than winning.

“It wasn’t pretty, but we did it. That’s all I can say. I love this team,” Vergata said.

Vergata credits the coaches for preparing the team and the defense for being solid throughout the game.

“I have to give it my all to coaching, our defense played great, and that’s all you can ask for. We did it.”