PLAYOFF PREVIEW (MB): “We respect the competition they have been tested against this fall”

CanadaFootballChat.com (CFC) continues its post-season coverage of the Winnipeg High School Football League (WHSFL) this week when the Dryden Eagles go head-to-head against the Vincent Massey (Brandon) Vikings.

This will be a unique match up because these two teams have not met each other this season. Dryden plays in the ‘A’ Division while Vincent Massey is in ‘AA’. The WHSFL has created four championships. This new format gives teams more chances to win a bowl game.

The Vikings finished the season strong to earn a playoff spot. The Vikings won their last two season games and are now on a three game win streak.

Vikings coach Mike Steeves had a great year with his team.

As coaches we have had an extremely fun year with this group of players and couldn’t be prouder of them for overcoming so much adversity,” says Steeves.

Players to watch on the Vikings: outside linebacker Joel Fiessha earned back to back defensive player of the week and running back Tyler Rowan was third in rushing and missed two and a half games.

The Eagles have seen an improvement in each of their last two seasons. After going winless in 2013, the Eagles earned a respectable 4-4 last season.

This season has been much different for the Eagles. The Eagles went 7-1 in the regular season and beat up their opponent 45-0 in the quarter finals.

One reason the Eagles have been so good is their powerful offense. In seven games, the Eagles have put up 256 points. That’s over twice as many points allowed (107).

“Last year was a good team just all we did was run so now that we run and throw we can do a lot more,” said wide receiver Brett Webster about the differences in the teams

When asked about the Vikings, Eagles coach Geoffrey Zilkalns said he didn’t care too much about the team’s records.

“We respect the competition they have been tested against this fall and do not put much stock in the records of the two teams,” said Zilkalns.  “We will have to earn whatever we get.”