Joey Payeur
A season that almost didn’t begin could yet end with a playoff berth for the Muskie football team.
In what was possibly the black-and-gold’s greatest scoring day in team history, Fort High routed the host St. John’s Tigers 60-28 in WHSFL action Tuesday.
The Muskies (2-4) are now tied with the Neelin Spartans for the eighth and final playoff berth in the Andy Currie Division (‘A’), although the Spartans hold the head-to-head tie-breaker due to beating the Fort 30-0 in their first game of the year.
But Fort High can advance to the playoffs with a victory here tomorrow in their regular-season finale against the West Kildonan Wolverines (3-3)—fittingly a showdown set for high noon.
“I love having our destiny in our own hands and the team does, too,” said Muskie head coach Mike Cuzzolino, whose team snapped a two-game losing streak with Tuesday’s victory.
“It’s the kind of pressure we need.
“This is a great group of guys and I love coaching them,” he added.
“I want to see this team rise to the occasion and become the championship-calibre team I know they can be.”
The Muskies led 38-14 at the half on Tuesday and scored touchdowns throughout the game in almost every way imaginable.
Quarterback Brandon Whitecrow threw a touchdown pass and ran for a major.
Kenton Bowles, who has proven himself after taking over as lead running back two games ago, had 125 yards rushing and one score along the ground.
Jacob Bolzan, meanwhile, had two rushing touchdowns and one on a punt return.
Dougie deBernardeaux also found the end zone on a punt return.
Just for variety, Cody Bell brought an interception back the other way for six points while Cole Kowalski finished with 100 yards receiving.
“I was really surprised how well the kids took care of business,” admitted Cuzzolino.
“When we arrived, the kids seemed a little out of it and not mentally focused,” he noted.
“So for them to go out and put up 60 points, I’m really proud of my boys.”
The only sore spot for Cuzzolino was his defence, which had problems making good tackles all game.
“Lack of intensity, poor tackling, and mental mistakes were the reason we gave up 21 points on defence,” said Cuzzolino, whose team also surrendered a punt return for a touchdown.
“Lots of guys jogging and taking plays off.
“But the ‘D’ rebounded and came up really big for us, recovering a couple fumbles and getting a pick-six,” he added.
Now comes an unfamiliar but dangerous foe in the Wolverines, who won the regular-season title in the Currie Division last season with an 8-0 mark.
West Kildonan hasn’t played the Muskies since before 2011, meaning nobody from either team knows what to expect.
Fort High has outscored the Wolverines this season (147-140) but West Kildonan has given up 65 less points (100 compared to 165).
“Playoffs begin Friday at noon for us and West Kildonan,” noted Cuzzolino.
“It’s going to be a real battle.
“There’s so much at stake we need our community’s support,” he stressed.
“These kids need to know that this community is behind them and supports the black-and-gold,” Cuzzolino said.
“That we all have Muskie pride.”
