BEDFORD ROAD REDMEN Last year: 1-5; sixth place in 3A regular season Key returnees: Due to low enrollment, most Redmen players must play on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. Those returning include running back Sam Walmsley, slotback/defensive back Nic Franks and wideout/defensive back Shawn Landrie. Back in the offensive and defensive trenches are Brett Farkas-Smith and Zane Bird. Rookies to watch: Ryan Loran is going to spend his first year under pivot for the Redmen senior team, while linebacker Matt Harmsworth and defensive back Zach Aulie will see action. A look ahead: “We are a young athletic team with low numbers,” said head coach Tye Mountney. “We hope to compete in all or games and continue to get better each week as our young team continues to learn the game of football.”
BISHOP MAHONEY SAINTS Last Year: 6-0; first in 3A league; lost 3A city final to Marion Graham 18-10 Key returnees: Grade 12 Kurtis Gryba enters his third year with the Saints senior squad and earned a defensive all-star nod at the Under-18 Canada Cup with Team Saskatchewan this summer. On offence both quarterback Brad Schnitzler and wide receiver Josh Sawatsky are back to provide some punch. Rookies to watch: Versatile Grade 11 player Reed Hnidy should see time at both running back and other postions, according to head coach Kirby Frey. Austin Evans is a pleasant addition to the defence as well. A look ahead: After a disappointing loss in the city final last season, Frey and the Saints are hoping to continue to compete in the 3A league. For now Frey is just hoping to see improvement in his squad as the year progresses, but other coaches peg them as the team to beat.
EVAN HARDY SOULS Last year: 3-2-1; third in the 3A regular season Key returnees: Last season’s leading passer, Matt Plishka, returns as the signal caller for the Souls, while Mike Neudorf will again hold down a spot in the backfield. Head coach Jud Heilman notes slotback Jasyn Dergo had a great off-season and could see reps at running back as well. Linebackers Curtis East and Shaun Johnson should cause trouble for any opposing offence. Rookies to watch: Grade 11 offensive lineman Mason Field should bang bodies around, according to Heilman. Preston McIntyre, a Grade 10 defensive lineman, and defensive back Brendan Ernst will be called upon as well. A look ahead: “I think we’re going to be one of those team’s that grow a tremendous amount throughout the season,” said Heilman. “Hopefully we see ourselves as a top-three team, but you never know the way things shake down.”
MARION GRAHAM FALCONS Last year: 5-1; second in 3A league; won city and provincial final Key returnees: A litany of wideouts return for the Falcons including Chad Braun, Dennon Rhode and Jay Okrainetz. Thomas Phoenix returns for a third year on the offensive line. Third-year defensive lineman Andrew Sanders highlights the defensive core as well as linebackers Sean Horel and Taylor Hinther.
Rookies to Watch: Quarterback Joe Devine takes over at pivot after spending another summer at the Manning Passing Academy in Louisiana. Running backs Nathan Parsons and Reilly Ingram will see action too. Linebackers Josh Steinhauer and Brandon Dinnen will look to make an impact alongside defensive lineman Layne Jackson. A look ahead: “We are definitely in a reloading year,” said head coach Bill Eng. “The team has an excellent attitude with an eager desire to learn how to play the game. We will have some bumps in the road on the way to the play-offs, where we will peak.”
MOUNT ROYAL MUSTANGS Last year: 1-5; seventh in 3A regular season Key returnees: On a Mustangs squad lean on experience, notables back in the fold include Grade 12 centre/defensive lineman Mitchell Marquette and slotback Dylan Bartlett. On the defensive side of the ball linebacker Alex Weber and defensive back Jeremy Snider should continue to perform. Rookies to watch: The Mustangs’ offence will be highlighted by two green players at quarterback and running back. Grade 10 Peyton Bedard will be behind centre for the Mustangs and will be an important part of the team’s future according to coach Pat Barry. Getting a lion’s share of the carries will be Grade 11 Frank Van Leer. A look ahead: Due to the influx of youth on the squad, Barry is expecting a “few growing pains throughout the season.” He hopes his team finds its stride later in the season, allowing them to make a ruckus in the second season.
NORTH BATTLEFORD VIKINGS Last year: 3-2-1; fourth in 3A regular season Key Returnees: Coming back to protect the pocket for the Vikings are Grade 12 offensive linemen Brendon Elliott and Shay Clark. Receiver Tom Orr should contribute as well. On defence head coach Jamie Sommerfeld will be looking to linebacker Pita Tuiloma and defensive back Scott Riley to make noise. Rookies to watch: Sommerfeld hopes Grade 11 players Spencer Cave, linebacker, and Cody Buziak, running back, will have an impact in their first season. The Grade 10 duo of Jordan Elliott, offensive line, and Lyle Stepanic, wideout, also give Sommerfeld some optimism. A look ahead: “This is a young team with a lot of heart and an excellent work ethic, look for them to grow in leaps and bounds throughout the season,” said Sommerfeld. “We will be looking to our offensive lineman to lead our young offence. As always, we will be a physical and aggressive team to play against.”
TOMMY DOUGLAS TIGERS Last year: 1-5; fifth in 3A regular season Key returnees: Head coach Brad Smith will be calling upon wide receiver turned quarterback Devin Walls to lead the Tigers’ offence after having a great training camp. Experienced running back Ashton Chappell will hopefully have plenty of room to maneuvre with offensive line veterans John Dice and Alex Bent in front of him. Rookies to watch: Smith is expecting to get some valuable minutes from running back Brandon Peters, Austin Wall at linebacker and Matt Rae on the offensive line. A look ahead: “We only graduated five players, so the majority of the team returns with a full year of senior football under their belts,” said Smith. “We’ve had a great week at camp and are much more experienced. We look to peak for playoffs and make a run.”
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Photograph by: Gord Waldner, The StarPhoenix, The StarPhoenix
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