By Greg Higgins

Vikings ready for a bounce back year

Aug 25, 2016 | 6:00 AM

With the majority of the team returning and another year under the quarterback’s belt, the Vikings are looking to improve on last season.

The North Battleford Comprehensive High School Vikings start training camp on Monday Aug. 29. After a disappointing 2-5 record last year and losing in the B playoffs, Head Coach Mike Humenny is hopeful this season will be better.

“We are very optimistic in the guys we have coming back,” Humenny said. “The team has a ton of potential. We had a really good offseason with some guys doing great in the weight room. The seniors last year were amazing leaders and really pointed the ship in the right direction.”

Humenny said only 12 players were lost to graduation from last year so the team was able to keep a good core. Damon Dutton will return as quarterback. The coach believes they can rely more on his arm this year as the team was run heavy in 2015.

“We ran out of a lot of two back sets last year. Dutton has progressed and he can throw every route on the tree. We have a great group of receivers so we’d like to get into a lot of five receiver sets,” Humenny said.

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According to the coach the offense won’t be stubborn and stick to a particular game plan. They will take advantage of any weaknesses they spot in opposing defenses.

Humenny said their defense will be basic and won’t try to fool anyone. The Vikings will run a 4-3 zone defense for the most part. He said he wants the players to make solid tackles and flow to the ball.

The most promising part of the team might be the chemistry of the offensive line. There will be three juniors moving up to the starting lineup who played together last year. Humenny said they will be anchored by senior Liciano Jolly at center who will call all the plays at the line.

The coach said with team’s first game Sept. 8, they have to get into a groove pretty quick. The Vikings open the season against the Tommy Douglas Tigers at 6:30 p.m. at Beaver Lions Stadium.

Greg Higgins is battlefordsNOW’s city municipal affairs and health reporter. He can be reached at ghiggins@jpbg.ca or tweet him @realgreghiggins.