Joey Payeur
The Muskie football may have looked at recent history and treated the Maples Marauders like an afterthought.
If they did, the black-and-gold most certainly are having second thoughts about doing so.
A year after routing the Marauders 44-0, it was the Muskies on the wrong end of the scoreboard in a 28-7 loss to the Marauders in WHSFL action Friday at Investors Group Field—home of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
“Bad practice habits; not taking it seriously enough directly led to this,” noted Muskie head coach Mike Cuzzolino.
“Our defence played pretty well, as did our special teams,” he noted.
“Maples played us tough.”
By falling to 2-3 on the season, the Muskies can’t catch the St. John’s Tigers (4-1) for fourth place in the Currie Division (‘A’).
The College Lorette Collegiate Scorpions, Dryden Eagles, and Kenora Broncos all tied for first place at 5-1.
Those four teams will face the bottom four finishers in the Vidruk Division (‘AA’) in a cross-over playoff tournament created before this season.
That means the Muskies will have to settle for being part of the playoff bracket featuring the bottom seven finishers in the Currie Division.
But a victory in their regular-season finale this Friday against the host St. Norbert Celtics (1-5) should lock up the right to host at least one playoff game.
The Portage Collegiate Institute Trojans (3-3) likely have fifth place in the division—and a first-round bye—locked up.
Tied with the Muskies at 2-3 are the Neelin Spartans, who have to face the Broncos in their regular-season finale, and the Marauders, who will close out against the Eagles.
“I think we’re OK,” said Cuzzolino. “I honestly believe our guys are capable of anything.
“We just need to refocus and reload,” he noted.
“We need the leaders to really step up and guide this ship as we head into playoffs.”
Cuzzolino said the Muskies need to approach this Friday’s game as their first playoff game.
“We can’t lose another game,” he stressed. “That’s the attitude we need from here on in.
“I believe in these guys,” Cuzzolino added.
“They can do anything they put their minds to.”
Maples scored a pair of touchdowns on long pass-and-run plays to lead 14-0 at halftime.
They added a short rushing major in the fourth quarter to go up by 21.
But the ensuing kick-off was reeled in by Doug deBernardeaux on his own goal line, who found a lane and turned on the jets.
deBernardeaux, who racked up 175 return yards on the day, broke free for a 110-yard return for a touchdown, with Cam Lidkea’s convert making it 21-7.
Still clearing their heads after the big play, the Marauders were unprepared for an onside kick by Lidkea, which was corralled by Cole Kowalski to give the ball right back to the Muskies.
“We really felt we had a chance at that moment,” said Cuzzolino.
Quarterback Brandon Whitecrow, who went 10-for-20 for 110 yards and two interceptions, subsequently moved the Muskies down the field.
But an ill-timed pass to the end zone was picked off and returned all the way back to the Muskies’ four-yard line.
One play later, the ball was in the end zone on a quick pass.
“Brandon had a rough day,” Cuzzolino said of his second-year pivot.
“He held on to the ball too long and would lose the open receiver,” he noted.
The Muskies’ offence also was hamstrung by the absence of second-leading receiver Matt Booth, who is out for the season with a broken collarbone.
“It hurts losing ‘Boother,’” Cuzzolino conceded.
“But Jarrod Ball stepped up big time this week, as well as Levi Maxton.
“We need to do a better job of spreading the ball around and get everyone some catches,” he noted.
Kowalski, who came into game as the division leader in receiving yards and touchdowns, was held to just 34 yards receiving and 23 rushing.
Ball was the Muskies’ top receiver with 40 yards.
Sekina Scheibler had only 11 carries for 65 yards as Fort High largely abandoned the running game after they fell behind by double digits.
But Scheibler also made his mark defensively, with his six tackles trailing only Kenton Bowles (nine) and Hunter Koles (eight) for the team lead.
