NEWS FILE PHOTO Crescent Heights Vikings (from left) Tony Simmons and Garrett Little take down Hat High Mohawks' Ashton Larson during Rangeland Football Conference action at the Methanex Bowl Friday, Sept. 20.
rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com@MHNMcCracken
The Crescent Heights Vikings will attempt to topple a dynasty tonight at the Methanex Bowl.
After missing out on the Rangeland Football Conference final last season, the Vikings return to the big dance in an underdog role against the five-time defending champion Hat High Mohawks – but Grade 12 centre Colby Cave says he wouldn’t have it any other way.
“If there’s one team we’re determined to beat, it’s Hat High. We’re ready. We need this game,” said Cave, whose Vikings take the field at 7:30 p.m. to play for the title. “I’ve never made it this far as a high school athlete so I’m really excited to be able to have the opportunity to play and there’s no better team to do it against than Hat High.”
Vikings head coach Sean Davis says that mentality is shared across the roster, as his “group of misfits” all believe they’re capable of slaying the gridiron goliath known as the Mohawks.
“They like being the underdog, they like the challenge. Since the day I got here all I’ve done is challenge these guys to be better,” said Davis, whose Vikings finished the regular season at 2-1 before defeating the McCoy-Eagle Butte Colts 21-7 in the semifinal. “(Hat High) is a very good football team, and they’ve been a very good football team for many years. We know they’re going to come out and play their best game, and we need to match that.”
While Hat High is the undeniable juggernaut in terms of both its history and a perfect record in the RFC this season, Mohawks head coach Quinn Skelton points out his group is younger and smaller than Crescent Heights – and he expects the Vikings to use that size to their advantage.
“They know they’re bigger,” said Skelton. “Watching the film on them lately, they do a lot of things well. They’ve got some real big kids and they like to play physical, so that’s certainly something we’re expecting. I couldn’t really expect anything less from them. I think they’re going to come out and they’re going to run harder and play tougher, just because they know they can.”
Grade 12 Mohawks linebacker Anthony Hullah says his team is confident heading into yet another final after going 3-0 in the regular season and shutting out the Brooks Buffalos 41-0 in the semifinals. But there’s no denying that being in the mix for six straight championships comes with a hefty share of pressure.
“There’s a lot of pressure because of last year, and the years before that,” said Hullah, adding the Vikings will bring their best of the year to the field tonight. “I expect them to come out physical. They’re going to have a pretty good offence.”
The Colts and Brooks Buffalos will kick off Friday evening’s doubleheader at the Methanex Bowl in a battle for third place at 5 p.m.
