Manitoba high school football starts with win by Portage Trojans (see rest of wk 1 schedule)

Winnipeg High School football kicked off yesterday with Varsity and Junior Varsity action. In Varsity action the Portage Trojans defeated the Neelin Spartans by a score of 40 to 7. These teams compete in AA division. AAA action starts today with the defending champs, St Paul’s visiting the Kelvin Clippers.

Below article by Written by Adam Martini

Week 1
The Winnipeg High School Football League kicks off its 77th season this week with a new look. Three new clubs join the loop (Steinbach Regional (Wpg.), Dakota Collegiate (Wpg.) and Stonewall Collegiate), plus there’s the addition of a junior varsity league. It all promises for plenty of action as the teams fight their way to the top of the John Potter (AAA), Kas Vidruk (AA) and Andy Currie (A) divisions. The playoffs and bowl championships are in November, but the road to a title begins now!

St. Paul’s AAA at Kelvin (Thurs. @ 5 p.m.)
The defending champs draw a hungry Kelvin squad right out of the gate. Crusaders’ QB Theo Deezar will make plays, but the defence will be the key with returnees such as Matt Deleau and Quinn Horton. The Clippers, who have knocked off the defending champs two years in a row, expect big things from 2009 Rookie of the Year RB R.J. Ilagan

West Kildonan (Wpg.) at Steinbach (Thurs. @ 5 p.m.)
The Wolverines hope to build on last year’s success. The 2009 Currie Division winners will feature one of the league’s most balanced attacks with senior signal-caller Matt Haworth and RB Tim “the tank” Demidiuk forming a one-two punch. Steinbach will field its first football team, but don’t sleep on the Sabres with QB Kerry Friesen and S Jarrod Bedard back for another year.

Elmwood at Fort Frances (Fri. @ 3 p.m.)
A new season means new faces in this Currie division battle. Elmwood, which lost 16 players to graduation, returns hard-hitting Ty Ince to bolster the defence. Fort will be breaking in new coaches, but the versatile Brad McDonald will make life a little easier for them.

Oak Park AAA at Vincent Massey (Wpg.) (Fri. @ 5 p.m.)
The Raiders are fired up after last season’s loss to St. Paul’s in the Potter finals. Returnees such as Nic Demski and Justin Hilton make up a balanced roster. The up-and-coming Trojans kick off their second varsity season with a mix of young and experienced players, including QB Ryan Hosegood (grandson of CFL Hall of Famer Ken Ploen) and RB Thomas Cuddy.

The rest of week one:
Today: Neelin at Portage (5 p.m.). Thursday: Miles Mac at Maples (5 p.m.); Kildonan East at Murdoch MacKay (5 p.m.); Vincent Massey – Brandon at Garden City (5 p.m.); Daniel Mac at Stonewall (5 p.m.); Sturgeon Heights at Sisler AAA (5 p.m.). Friday: Dryden at Beaver Brae (3 p.m.); Grant Park at Crocus Plains (5 p.m.); St. Paul’s AA at Tec Voc (5 p.m.); Dakota va St. John’s at Nomad’s Field (5 p.m.); St. Norbert at Sisler A (5 p.m.); River East at Churchill (5:30 p.m.).
[url]http://www.whsfl.ca/index.html

DATE	VISITOR	HOME	TIME
WEEK 1
Varsity
Wed Sep 8	Neelin 14	Portage 40	5:00
Thu Sep 9	West Kildonon	Steinbach	5:00
Thu Sep 9	Miles Mac	Maples	5:00
Thu Sep 9	Kildonan East	Murdoch MacKay	5:00
Thu Sep 9	Vincent Massey – Brandon	Garden City	5:00
Thu Sep 9	Daniel Mac	Stonewall	5:00
Thu Sep 9	St. Paul’s AAA	Kelvin	5:00
Thu Sep 9	Sturgeon Heights	Sisler AAA	5:00
Fri Sep 10	Elmwood	Fort Francis	3:00
Fri Sep 10	Dryden	Beaver Brae	3:00
Fri Sep 10	Grant Park	Crocus Plains	5:00
Fri Sep 10	St. Paul’s AA	Tec Voc	5:00
Fri Sep 10	Dakota	St. John’s	5:00; Nomad’s Field
Fri Sep 10	St. Norbert	Sisler A	5:00
Fri Sep 10	Oak Park AAA	Vincent Massey – Winnipeg	5:00
Fri Sep 10	River East	Churchill	5:30
Junior Varsity
Wed Sep 8	Vincent Massey – Wpg 0	Oak Park 42	5:00
Wed Sep 8	Crocus Plains 0	St. Paul’s 77	5:00
Wed Sep 8	Sturgeon Heights 25	Sisler 19	5:00
Bye	Grant Park
Fri Sep 10	Maples	Churchill	3:00