By: Mike Still (@mikestill94)
Feature photo: Brady Meeks scrambles for yards. Photo by Joey Payeur.
In 2001, the Winnipeg High School Football League (WHSFL) welcomed the Ontario-based Fort Frances Muskies, Dryden Eagles and Beaver Brae Broncos into the fold.
Prior to 2001, all three teams were part of their own league, playing each other twice with the top two then competing for the championship. The winner would then take on Thunder Bay’s high school football champ.
The shift to the WHSFL involved a few different factors, one of which was the desire for further challenges and variety.
It’s safe to say that the move has worked out in the long run. The Broncos claimed the ‘A’ division championship in their debut season in the WHSFL and the Eagles did the same the following year. Dryden also claimed top spot in 2006 and 2016.
The lone Ontario-based team that haven’t lifted a championship trophy in the WHSFL are the Muskies. They have a chance to end that in 2019 when they battle the Churchill Bulldogs for the Division 3 championship this Saturday at 4 p.m. at IG Field.
The game is one year in the making for Fort Frances, who fell just one point shy of advancing to the championship in 2018.
“This is the furthest that any Muskie Football team has made it since being part of the WHSFL league, and we’re very proud of our team,” coach Matt Armstrong says.
“With 12 returning seniors from last years squad, the Muskies rolled into training camp determined to further their season this year after feeling like a lot was left on the table from last year.
Our numbers for turnout over the past couple of years have diminished and our challenge was to ensure we could recruit as many new faces as possible to sustain the program. Given the recent success of the team, the turnout of new players turned out for the better. With a good foundation of dedicated rookies, along with experienced seniors the team’s drive to succeed has shown in our record this season.”
One the team’s seniors is Player of the Year favourite Brady Meeks, a multi-purpose threat at the quarterback position.
He threw for 1,045 yards and ten majors while also rushing for 650 yards and nine scores, helping the Muskies to a 4-2 regular season record as well as a 28-22 victory over the 4-1 Maples Marauders in the semi-finals.
A captain for Fort Frances this season, along with Sean Huziak (RB), Wyatt ‘pickles’ Richards (OL/DE), Colten Allen (LB), Ayden Gushulak-Kelly (REC) and Aaron ‘shibby’ Scheibler (Ol/DL), it isn’t hard to notice Meeks’ passion for the game.
“Football means everything to me. Going out to practice every day and getting the chance to compete with other teams in our division is like heaven to me,” he says.
“All the other seniors and myself have been working hard at this ever since we went 0-7 in our grade nine year. Through out all the hard work and distractions we made it and I can’t say how happy I am for my brothers, our coaches and our friends and family to come watch us and cheer us on in the biggest game of our careers so far.”
Fellow Muskies coach Vic Davis added high praise for his pivot.
“I had the chance to play with arguably the best quarterback the Muskies have ever had in Brett Watt, who also went on to have five successful and productive years with the Manitoba Bisons, one of which I had the chance to play along with. It’s safe to say that I personally see many similarities and traits between Brett and Brady.”
That certainly is high praise for a quarterback who could hardly throw a spiral for 15 yards back when he was the team’s backup at the position in grade nine.
Through a tireless work ethic however, Meeks improved and has been the Muskies’ man under centre for the past three seasons, with a chance to cap things off in style on Saturday.
“Brady’s ability to scramble, his accuracy and his determination to always do better, and push his teammates to the same high level of competition is probably his greatest improvement,” added Armstrong.
“He is a true leader, whom all of his teammates look to for advice, encouragement and support.”