If the Muskies are going to prove a point this football season, they’ll have to score a few first—and keep their opponents from racking them up at the same time.
The 2002 Winnipeg High School Football League campaign is off to a rocky start for the black-and-gold, who are ranked second in the ‘AA’ conference after a 4-3 regular-season record and quarter-final playoff exit in their inaugural season last year.
But having been outscored 82-0 in their first two games, including an exhibition loss in International Falls on Aug. 30 and then last Friday’s 42-0 loss to top-ranked Oak Park here, head coach Bob Swing is counting on the recovery process to begin this Friday when the Muskies (0-1) travel to Winnipeg to face the St. Paul’s Crusaders (0-1).
Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m.
“It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish,” said Swing. “It matters not what other people think, only what those 50 guys in that locker room think.”
A better start wouldn’t hurt the Muskies’ cause, though. After falling behind the Broncos 14-0 in the opening quarter, the Muskies surrendered three touchdowns in the first quarter against Oak Park and never recovered.
“Don’t ask me, ask the players,” Swing said of his team’s troubles coming out of the gate. “It’s surprising to me that we look like we don’t know what we’re supposed to be doing out there.
“They’ll get it right. If they don’t, then it’s because were not coaching properly.”
Nor is Swing about to torch the offensive and defensive playbooks just yet to find a winning solution.
“We’re not changing anything,” he vowed. “We may change the personnel, but the system that’s out there is what teams are going to get from us all season.”
To turn the Muskie ship around, Swing wants quicker reactions and more toughness from his troops.
“There’s still that hesitation factor and when they hesitate, they’re not where they’re supposed to be,” he remarked. “The kids should be sore after a game. It’s not tiddlywinks we’re playing out here.”
And the Crusaders will be no pushovers for the Muskies—if St. Paul’s loss by only a touchdown to Oak Park two weeks ago is any indication.
“St. Paul’s is a crisp team with a good lineup,” said Swing. “They’ll drill us if we play the way we’ve been playing.”
The Raiders—the three-time defending WHSFL champions—wielded their own tools of destruction, wasting little time turning the Muskies’ home opener into a nightmare.
Running back Astaire Cummings, nicknamed “Fred” by his teammates, performed a stunning soft-shoe number on Oak Park’s second play from scrimmage, going untouched for a 70-yard touchdown to put the Raiders up 7-0.
The black-and-gold went two-and-out on their first possession, but were sparked when defensive back Kyle McTavish recovered a Kevin Zaluski fumble at the Muskies’ 15-yard line to halt the Raiders’ second drive.
But Oak Park’s defence held firm once again—and Raiders’ pivot Jeremiah Robinson showed his appreciation on the following series as he scampered 15 yards on a designed bootleg run to make it 14-0.
Robinson then reached into his bag of tricks on Oak Park’s next drive, hitting offensive lineman Matt Scharer on a tackle eligible play with a 10-yard scoring pass before the first quarter ended.
After six-straight series without a first down to start the game, the Muskies finally put together their first sustained drive with less than five minutes left in the second quarter.
But the march stalled at Oak Park’s 38-yard line, and the Raiders ended the half in style when a scrambling Robinson found wide-open running back Tom Miller at the goal line with a seven-yard strike for a 28-0 advantage.
Oak Park continued its dominance in the second half, marching 65 yards on its first possession for the major—capped off by Scharer’s second touchdown catch of the game.
Running back Preston Drinnan squeezed through a hole in the front line for a two-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to wrap up the scoring.
After St. Paul’s, the Muskies will travel to Winnipeg on Saturday, Sept. 21 for a 2 p.m. showdown against Churchill, then host River East on Friday, Sept. 27 at 3 p.m.—the first of a three-game homestand.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
