By: Mike Still (@mikestill94)
Feature photo: Senior Austin Balan will be a player to keep an eye out for when Sisler takes on Oak Park tomorrow night. Photo by hudl.com
The 2018 WHSFL varsity schedule kicked off last week with a number of tremendous contests. Highlighting the season openers was the week 1 game of the week between St. Paul’s 1 and Dakota, which the Crusaders won 23-0. Going forward, there will be a game of the week in each division. Below is a breakdown of all three matchups that are being highlighted.
Division 1 (Gustafson conference): Sisler (1-0) at Oak Park (0-1), 5 p.m., Friday, Sept. 14
A classic division 1 tilt between two consistent contenders will play out in week two as the Spartans and Raiders do battle. Sister opened the season with a 14-1 victory over Sturgeon Heights, while Oak Park fell 42-3 against a high-powered Vincent Massey Winnipeg squad.
The Spartans defence was on point last week, registering four fumble recoveries, three sacks and an interception. Two of the team’s fumble recoveries were recorded by defensive back Kyle Bolton, who took one to the house. He also added three tackles.
Offensively, #CFC100 2020 receiver Steven Koniuck had an incredible 70-yard touchdown reception, where he grabbed a tipped ball with one hand and used his speed to do the rest. Austin Balan (#CFC100 2019) also had a great day on the ground for the Spartans, racking up 118 yards on 14 carries. He also added eight tackles and a fumble recovery on defence.
Oak Park struggled to stop a dynamic Vincent Massey offence last week, but did get a sack a piece from defensive back Brendan Allan and defensive end Sam Murison. Defensive back Jesse Dudych also had a fumble recovery. It will be up to these players, along with seniors such as Tyler McLuckie and James Bruin – who led the team with five tackles last week – to stop Koniuck, Balan and company, as well as put pressure on young quarterback Richard Lugumire.
Offensively, the Raiders struggled to get much going against a stout Trojans defence and will need an improved performance from junior pivot Thomas Hubbard and company. The signal-caller was held to just 67 yards on 19 attempts against Vincent Massey. Running back Ryland Kelly did average 4.5 yards per carry however, while impact receiver Justice Flett hauled in 60 of the team’s 67 yards through the air. Look for these three players to anchor the Raiders against a strong Sisler defence.
Division 2 (Bramwell conference): Neelin (0-1) at River East (1-0), 5 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 14
It will be a classic battle of offence versus defence when the River East Kodiaks take on the Neelin Spartans tonight.
Despite a 48-30 loss to Murdoch MacKay in week one, Neelin showed that there will be no decrease in their passing production following the graduation of Dayton Black. Senior Evan Nachtigall went off for 366 passing yards and two scores in the contest. Fellow senior Kaleb Johnston also emerged as Nachtigall’s favourite target, hauling in seven receptions for 227 yards and a score.
River East, on the other hand, enjoyed a 20-2 victory over Crocus Plains. Their defence was stout, with four sacks and two interceptions. Looking at tonight’s matchup, River East head coach Sean Oleksewycz is “confident” that he has the best secondary in the league, and worked in a few new coverages this week to hopefully confuse Nachtigall.
Leading the way will be safety Ethan Topping and #CFC100 2019 halfback Samuel Hezekiah. Topping was all over the field, with 10 tackles and a sack against the Plainsmen. Hezekiah had three tackles, a sack and a pass breakup and also led the offence, with 162 yards rushing and two scores on just eight carries.
Division 3 (Currie conference): St. John’s (1-0) at Elmwood (1-0), Thursday, Sept. 13 at 5 p.m.
The St. John’s Tigers and Elmwood Giants both put 40 points on board in week one and will meet in what should be a strong rushing battle.
The Tigers got 121 combined rushing yards from four different backs, while also recording three touchdowns on the ground. Jacob Mpoyo and Myles Kakewash led the way with 51 and 44 yards, respectively while also averaging over five yards per carry.
Elmwood on the other hand, got 214 yards and two scores from Evyn Melville, who has been described as “a bull of a running back.” To put his numbers into perspective, last year he had just 314 yards on the ground all season. Defensively, the Giants got sacks from defensive/offensive linemen Graham Sousa and Sheldon Bibeau, along with an interception from defensive back Nicholas Arriagada.
St. John’s will look to stymy Melville with a stout front seven, led by defensive lineman Nick Wakos, who had four tackles and a forced fumble last week, as well as linebacker Nicholas Anderson, who had three tackles as well as an interception for a touchdown in the team’s 41-0 shutout of Maples.