Last Friday saw the Fort Frances High School Muskies win the 76th Homecoming football game with a 61-21 victory over the Beaver Brae Broncos out of Kenora.
The Homecoming win on Friday, September 19, 2025, marks three straight at home victories to start the Muskie football season. The black and gold finish the regular season in the Winnipeg High School football league with four road games.
The Muskie defense was plagued by sloppy tackling the whole game and Kenora took advantage, racking up consistent gains with a strong running attack. The Broncos opened the scoring with a long drive to take a 7-0 lead early in the game. Late in the first quarter Muskie quarterback Milo Stafford connected with receiver Malachi Barkley who made a one handed catch for a 60-yard pickup. Running back Parker Sisco capped off the drive with a short touchdown run to tie the score at 7 after the first quarter.
The Muskies exploded with 31 points in the second quarter.
Barkley put the Muskies ahead with a 57 yard punt return touchdown.
The Muskies pinned Kenora deep in their own end forcing the Broncos to concede a safety.
The Muskies increased their lead to 23-7 when Stafford hit slotback Chase Whitecrow from 30 yards out.
Trent Friesen, who was successful converting all Muskie touchdowns, booted the ensuing kickoff into Kenora endzone to make it 24-7.
Fullback Landon Johnson sprinted in from 20 yards out to extend the Muskie’s lead to 31-7.
Kenora responded with a long scoring drive in the last minute only to be matched by the Muskies when Stafford scored from 5 yards out as time expired to extend the lead to 38-14 at halftime.
In the second half, Kenora scored their final touchdown of the game on the opening possession to bring the Muskies closer at 38-21.
Kenora would go on to concede another safety followed by a handful of Muskie touchdowns. Two saw \ Stafford and Ben Boettcher score on quarterback sneak plays and one by Landon Medwechuck on a 25-yard run to make the final Muskies 61, Kenora 21.
After the game quarterbacks coach Brady Meeks said Kenora put up a good fight but he was pleased to see the Muskies overcome their mistakes.
“Kenora played hard, they really, really gave it to us in that second half,” he said.
“We were a bit concerned, honestly but again we’re really proud of our guys and how resilient they are.”
The Muskies struggled giving up plenty of yards after contact to a strong Bronco running game.
“We’ve definitely got to practice some tackling, and open field tackling,” Meeks said.
“That’s for sure. There’s a few other areas as well like [special teams], some things we need to change up a bit, get the guys a little bit more engaged, some open field blocking. We’ve definitely got some things to improve on this week. I’m very glad we can see it now early on in the season, rather than later on.”
Meeks says resiliency is the key to heading out on the road and coming home with wins.
“[We have to] stay resilient, I know I love that word and I keep saying it, but it’s everything that this team is about,” he said.
“We’re gonna punch ‘em in the mouth every first play and then go from there.”
The Muskies next game is in Winnipeg at the North Winnipeg Nomad’s Field on Friday, September 26, 2025, vs the St. Norbert Celtics. The Celtics are coached by former standout Muskie player Adrian Huntley.
