The start of a new school year also means the start of new school sports teams. This year, the Yorkton Regional High School senior boys football team is expecting to have a much better showing than they did last year, with a more experienced, veteran squad.聽
The team has been practicing for a few weeks already. Jason Boyda, offensive coordinator of the team, said they should have a good chance at competing for a championship this year.聽
鈥淟ast year we only had four grade 12 starters, so we鈥檙e returning a lot of starters from last year,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey were young and inexperienced, so we took it on the chin last year. Now they鈥檙e battle tested, their football IQ is increased, and we鈥檙e looking to roll this year.鈥澛�
The players haven鈥檛 taken the summer lightly. They used it to improve their speed and conditioning, and do some additional training with John Bankhead who visited Yorkton with his football camps earlier in the summer.聽
Boyda said the coaching staff is expecting big things from a number of their players this year.
鈥淏raden Kitchen should have a step out year at running back, it鈥檚 his second year at being a starter,鈥� offered Boyda.
鈥淒avid Neumeier will be anchoring our offensive line. He went down to Texas to play for Team Saskatchewan, and I鈥檓 looking for big things out of him,鈥� he said.聽
He also mentioned the 鈥楳&M connection鈥�.
鈥淢atthew Balysky and Matthew Mandziuk 鈥� they鈥檙e phenomenal athletes. We can depend on them quite a bit to make plays both offensively and defensively,鈥� said Boyda.
And of course, Boyda said everyone is expecting an incredible year from Jordin Rusnack, who joined the team as a grade 10 starting quarterback last year.
鈥淗e鈥檚 grown, he鈥檚 matured, his arm strength has really improved, and between the ears he鈥檚 really developed a really great understanding of the game,鈥� said Boyda. 鈥淚鈥檓 expecting him to have an outstanding year.鈥澛�
Rusnack also agreed that his game has improved, and he鈥檚 come a long way since the start of last season.聽
鈥淚 shouldn鈥檛 be nervous anymore,鈥� said Rusnack. 鈥淸I鈥檓] more experienced, I feel like my arm is better. I should run more this year, too. I feel like it should be a better season overall.鈥�
Rusnack spoke highly of the rest of his team, too, saying they鈥檙e looking strong and skilled in practice so far.聽
When asked what the biggest difference between this year鈥檚 squad and last year鈥檚 will be, he said the number of veterans.聽
鈥淚t鈥檚 a good, solid, older team. Everyone should know what they鈥檙e doing,鈥� said Rusnack.聽
鈥淚t鈥檚 about what we expect it to be. The O-line men might be our weak point but it looks like they鈥檙e doing well so far.鈥澛�
Rusnack said he鈥檚 looking forward to playing two teams in particular this season.聽
鈥淒efinitely Peacock, they鈥檙e always a rival,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd Swift Current for sure, since they kicked us out of the playoffs last year.鈥澛�
The coaching staff for this year鈥檚 team will look very similar to last year鈥檚, with the addition of Mark Schendel to the list.聽
The first game of the season for the YRHS Raider Gridders will be their annual Friday Night Lights game on Friday, Sept. 15 at 7:00 p.m. at Century Field in Yorkton. They will host the Weyburn Eagles.聽
