By: Mike Still (@mikestill94)
Feature photo: Senior Tyler Morris returns to anchor the Trojans at quarterback in 2018. Photo by PortageOnline.
Over the next month, manitobafootballfeed will be previewing each of the 31 varsity teams battling for supremacy in the Winnipeg High School Football League, which kicks off its regular season on Wednesday, Sept. 5. Below is a breakdown of the Portage Trojans.
Team: Portage Trojans
Head Coach: Donald Burrell, second year
Conference/Division: Bramwell Conference, Division 2
2017 Regular Season Record: 3-4
2017 Playoff Record: 1-1 (Lost to Kildonan East in Canad Inns Bowl semi-finals)
The Portage Trojans face an uphill battle in 2018, with 12 seniors lost to graduation. But if anyone can get their troops ready for battle, it’s Donald Burrell, a former defensive backs coach with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers who has also coached the U18 provincial team in the past.
Offence: The Trojans return senior pivot Tyler Morris, who has been under centre for this team for the past few seasons, including a heartbreaking loss in the CanadInns Bowl in 2016. He’s hungry to finish his high school career off on a high note.
Morris will have some key pieces around him, including speedy grade 11 receiver Ian McCutchin as well as Team Manitoba U16 running back Kaiden Banfield, who brought home a silver medal at the Western Challenge this summer. Additionally, six-foot, 200 pound junior Mason Wieringa will provide stability in the backfield as well as at linebacker on defence.
Defence: The defence is relatively young, but will be anchored by six-foot-one, 250-pound defensive lineman Carter Little, who was a member of Team Manitoba’s U18 squad this summer. Other players to keep an eye out for include defensive tackle Cam Newham and middle linebacker Ashton Miller.
Short and long-term goals: Coach Burrell’s vision for 2018 is rather straightforward. He hopes his team “competes on every play,” and is able to make a push for the division title at year’s end.