The Huskies have three games remaining this season, while the Chargers have one. (Facebook/Senator Myles Venne School)

By Derek Cornet

sports

High school football remains popular in tri-communities

Oct 8, 2024 | 3:59 PM

Football at Churchill Community High School and Senator Myles Venne School continues to be a popular sport among student athletes.

Both teams compete in leagues within the Saskatchewan High Schools Athletics Association with Churchill playing nine-man football and Senator playing six-man.

The season is already winding down for the Churchill team with the Chargers expected to play their final game of the season against Tisdale on Friday. Their record for the 2024 season has been one win and four losses.

“We found our strong points. It takes a while when we have everyone coming in new,” said Coach Bill Varga.

“We usually have 10 to 15 new guys, so we had to find a place for them and we had to find the starters where they are good for everybody.”

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The Charges consists of 30 players with only seven seniors on the roster. Varga explained the team has matured throughout the season and the older players have become leaders on the field.

The major highlight of the season was a trip to Regina from Sept. 26-29 that was paid for by the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The Riders worked with the Chargers during that time at Mosiac Place and the team also got to witness the Riders defeat the Ottawa Redblacks by 29-16 on Sept. 28.

“It’s nice to see the smiles on kids’ faces when they get to be given opportunities like that,” Varga said.

As for the Senator Huskies, the team has played three games so far (two wins and one loss) with a fourth match set against Cumberland House this week. Next week, the Huskies will travel to Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation and then they will play a second Cumberland House team during the week after that.

“Last season, we had the best season of our existence. We went 4-1 last year,” said Coach Steve Aldridge.

“I am hopeful we can replicate that and go into the playoffs this year and make it to the final. Last year, we made it into the playoffs in second place and lost in the final to the team that we play this week. It’s a little bit of a rematch to that playoff game we lost last year at home. I am hopeful we can make it passed these guys and see ourselves in the final again.”

Aldridge noted he also has a fairly new team of 23 players of which only three are in Grade 12. He added one highlight this season for the team is the players have been dedicated and have been making it to practice consistently.

“Students had to sign a commitment letter to promise they would be out at practice every day that they don’t have a legitimate reason,” Aldridge said.

“That has made a big difference to who is coming out to practice and how much learning gets done. In the past, it has been pretty bad and it’s hard to improve when your not getting your whole team out to practices.”

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com