Plainsmen set to battle WHSFL’s best

Before setting foot on the field this season, the Crocus Plainsmen won something big — the respect of the Winnipeg High School Football League.

Following their first winning season in recent history, the Plainsmen were ranked among the top 12 teams in the province and will compete in AAAA Tier 1. The WHSFL spent the past two years with all AAAA schools in one tier but split up to avoid some of the most lopsided matchups.

However, that respect comes with seven big tests, starting on Friday in Winnipeg against the Sturgeon Heights Huskies.

“That presents some challenges,” head coach Mason Kaluzniak said of playing Manitoba’s best. “But our kids haven’t for one second backed down from the challenge. They’re ready to go to work. They’re out here every day applying themselves.”

Crocus shook off two shutout losses last year and rattled off four straight victories to finish 4-3, narrowly missing the Anavets Bowl playoffs as one of the top eight teams.

The Plainsmen beat the Huskies 31-10 in the Vidruk Bowl semifinals, but fell 21-10 to the Vincent Massey Vikings in the final, effectively finishing 10th.

A bunch of strong seniors led that group, most notably current Winnipeg Rifle Simon Leckie, who turned into the starting quarterback, safety, kicker, punter, and returner.

This year, Crocus has just six Grade 12s to lean on.

“We’re definitely taking the momentum from last year and applying it this year,” Kaluzniak said.

“We’re actually in a better situation than we were last year. Our obvious weakness right now is we’re young. We graduated 22 … so there’s no denying we’re in a situation where we’re going to be punching up a little bit, but we had a great off-season.”

Assistant coach Matt Warren led the group through off-season training. Kaluzniak said sessions consistently included about 20 players eager to get ahead for this fall.

Senior running back Muqtadir “MQ” Apena was one of them. After his first-ever football season in Grade 11, he’s ready to make a big impact as part of a one-two punch with under-17 provincial team back Easton Durgan.

Apena had one goal in mind as he pushed through summer conditioning.

The last game against Massey, we definitely didn’t end it how we wanted to, and it gave me motivation to actually do better and not just for myself but for the team, just because it’s Massey and it’s been a while since we’ve beat them,” Apena said, adding he welcomes the challenge of teams trying to stop the Plainsmen run game.

“Definitely excited for that. Something I’ve been working on since a little before summer, too.”

Senior Joe Makori is set to start at quarterback after limited reps in past seasons, but he has shown a few flashes of big-play potential, especially with a talented offensive line in front of him.

“We have a really strong O-line this year, which is something we’ve had to patch together in the last little while, so the battery of our offence looks pretty good,” Kaluzniak said.

On defence, the two returning starters are junior Will Cantelo and senior defensive lineman Kayden MacEachern.

“By all means (MacEachern) is really the heartbeat of our defence and has been for two years,” Kaluzniak said.

MacEachern has spent more time in opposing backfields than any Plainsmen over the past decade. He feels stronger than ever heading into his final season with the team.

“It feels easier,” MacEachern said of training camp this year. “I know the system, the playbook. Even though we kind of switched it up this year, it’s still the same deep down.”

The Plainsmen home opener is Sept. 12 against the Steinbach Sabres, with another home game on Sept. 18 against the Kelvin Clippers.

After that, it’s a tough stretch of three, including the Oak Park Raiders on the road, the Grant Park Pirates at home, and the Dakota Lancers in Winnipeg.

Crocus finishes the regular season on Oct. 16 at home against Massey.

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