Brandham set to step in as Mohawks’ new quarterback

By Ryan McCracken on August 19, 2017.

rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com @MHNMcCracken

The Hat High Mohawks returned to the field Friday night to begin preparing for the upcoming Rangeland Football League season, and with it a third consecutive title defence.

While there are some familiar faces missing from the roster, head coach Quinn Skelton is excited about the young men hoping to fill those gaps.

“We’ve got a great young team coming up this year,” said Skelton. “We’re not real deep with our Grade 12 group, it’s a small-number group but we’ve got some guys there who can play. But our Grade 11s are probably one of the biggest, strongest groups of players we’ve had in a long time.”

One of those standout Grade 11s is Brody Brandham, who will start the season at quarterback. Skelton says he’s been working tooth and nail over the past few seasons in the hopes of earning a chance to start, and now he’s looking forward to showing the league what Brandham can do.

“His abilities are fantastic right now and we’re looking for big things out of their passing game with him,” said Skelton. “And then to compliment Brody, a lot of our boys have been putting in the time in catching the ball and we expect to have a decent passing attack this year.”

Brandham added he’s spent last season learning from former Mohawks quarterback Sanjay Grover before hitting as many development camps as he could over the off-season. While he’s soaked up plenty of knowledge, he says patience may be the most important factor to his success.

“I learned (from Grover) to be patient and just take my time, set up in the pocket and just run the game becuaase you’re the leader and you’ve got to control it,” said Brandham. “I’m so excited. I’ve wanted to be the starter for a while and I’m glad I’m finally getting my chance.”

Brandham added he thinks of himself as a pocket passing quartback, but he certainly won’t shy away from showing off his footwork if the need arises.

“My first thought is definitely to pass but if I get forced out of the pocket, then it sucks to be them,” he said.

The Mohawks will be starting their hunt for a fourth straight RFC championship in style as well. Both the varsity Mohawks and junior Hawks will have new clubhouses as part of Hat High’s school modernization. “The junior football clubhouse is going to be a little bit smaller, more of a changeroom. We wanted it that way becuase we want kids to be excited about becoming a senior. The seniors’ is going to have more of a ‘wow’ factor with individual welded booths,” said Hat High principal Boris Grisonich, adding he’s excited to unveil the improvements across the school when the bell rings in September. “There’s not a thing in this building, whether it’s athletics, performing arts or academics, there’s nothing missing.”

Skelton added he’s expected a lot more parity in the RFC this season, with the Brooks Buffalos and Crescent Heights Vikings both presenting considerable threats to their championship streak,.

“Brooks is going to be extremely talented, they have an extremely athletic group of kids,” he said. “In addition to Brooks, the Vikings are always progressing and building and I expect them to be tough competition as well.”

The Mohawks hit the gridiron at the Methanex Bowl for a pre-season game against Lacombe next Saturday before opening the season against the McCoy Colts on Sept. 1.

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