No friendly fire in store for Muskies

Bob Swing and Jon Romu were teammates on the University of Manitoba Bisons, and shared the camaraderie most teammates do.
But that’s not to say Romu, head coach of the Kelvin Clippers (1-0-1), isn’t above trying to extend the misery of Swing and the Muskies (0-2) this Friday afternoon during Week 3 action in the Winnipeg High School Football League.
“We hope because we’re 0-2, when we go there, teams will take us lightly,” said Swing, whose team is now riding a 13-game losing streak dating back to the 2001 season.
“But I know Jon Romu. I played with him. He knows better than that,” Swing added. “Kelvin’s a big, strong, physical football team. They’ll be ready.”
The Clippers joined the black-and-gold as the only winless teams in the WHSFL last year—and lost out to the Muskies for the final playoff spot based on having a worst points for/against record.
But all that is a distant memory at this point of the 2003 campaign after Kelvin blanked the River East Kodiaks 23-0 in their opener, then tied the Grant Park Pirates 13-13 last week.
The Clippers boast the league’s top running back and second-best quarterback and receiver in the league, which doesn’t bode well for a Muskie defence that’s given up a league-high 83 points in just two games—more than double the next closest total possessed by the defending league champion Oak Park Raiders (44).
Swing, meanwhile, is crossing his fingers that the other cleat will drop for his team soon.
“The whole season can ride on one play,” said Swing. “Churchill lost their starting quarterback to Oak Park with a separated shoulder. That’s how quick things can change.
“I’m telling the guys we’re 0-2 and St. Paul’s is 2-0, and everyone else has only one win. With one victory, we could move up to fourth place.”
Swing had guaranteed that win would come in last Friday’s game against the host Kodiaks (1-1), but he admittedly was picking his shoe out of his mouth after a 43-13 loss to River East.
“We spent a lot of time [Sunday] in our coaches’ meeting wondering if there was some kind of panic button we needed to hit. We decided not at all, and that it’s been a combination of bad luck and mental stuff.
“We need to re-evaluate what we need to emphasize,” he added. “Training camp is over.”
< *c>Block party
The Muskies, playing without running back Thomas Edwards (ankle), stumbled out of the gate against River East as their first punt of the game was blocked.
Then, in a case of déja vu from the previous week against Grant Park, Swing said the Kodiaks’ quarterback flicked a desperation pass to his running back, who took it 35 yards for the opening score.
“They got rewarded for being lazy,” Swing said about River East. “Their running back doesn’t block anyone, Jason Kellar comes shooting through the hole to get to their quarterback, and the [running back] ends up scoring a touchdown.”
River East went up 15-0 on a 50-yard punt return for a touchdown, where Swing counted three Muskies who missed tackles on the play.
But the Muskies fought back when quarterback Andrew George, who had two touchdown passes and two interceptions in the game, hit Kevin Gemmell for their first major of the season via the aerial route on a 30-yard play to cut the deficit to 15-7.
With the Kodiaks in range, a late second-quarter possession epitomized the Muskies’ tendency to implode, which haunted them both last season and so far this year.
“There’s only 2:20 left until the half and we’ve got the ball on their 50,” recounted Swing. “Suddenly, they get an interception and return it to our one-yard line, and score a touchdown from there.
“Then we return the subsequent kickoff 55 yards to their 50. On the next snap, we fumble the ball right into the hands of the guy who just intercepted us and he takes it to the house. Suddenly, it’s 29-7.
“We’re all a little fragile at that point after 13 losses in a row, but we’re not playing in the Powder Puff division,” Swing stressed. “If you take a break, they’ll make a play on you.”
Two touchdown runs by the Kodiaks were sandwiched around a 75-yard touchdown strike from George to Gemmell in the second half to close the scoring.
The game ended on another fitting note as the Muskies fumbled at the Kodiaks’ one on the last play of the game.
“There were more positives than negatives,” said Swing. “[River East] earned one drive all day. We ran the ball in the second half. We had multiple receivers make catches. Our defence up the middle was stout. Our deep pass protection was great.
“But we’ve got to avoid the turnovers. That’s the main fundamental of football.
“But the wins and losses don’t really matter to me. One of these kids could find the cure for cancer or be the next prime minister,” he reasoned. “We have to give them the tools to get there, and if we do, then society will be better because of it.”