Vikings lineman Weber suiting up for U-18 Team Sask

Weber, who will be a senior on the North Battleford Comprehensive High School Vikings this coming fall, is the only Battlefords-area player on the 40-man U-18 provincial team.

But it’s not his only time representing the province.

This past January, Weber was one of three Vikings to play for Team Saskatchewan at the International Bowl in Texas.

“He’s worked extremely hard to get to this point,” Vikings head coach and Football Sask president Mike Humenny said. “He’s earned it. Nothing has happened like he’s lucked into it.

“And we’re all really happy. Any time you can get someone from your program that is representing on the provincial level that gets to go to the national tournament, that’s good exposure for us.”

Humenny estimated about three quarters of this U-18 team was on the same team competing with Weber down in Texas in January.

The 6’1″ lineman also suited up for Team Saskatchewan North’s U-16 team two summers ago.

“Zack has taken a lot of steps to position himself to be on this team,” Humenny said. “He does all the right things with us with our Vikings senior team and on the provincial team, I was just talking with the coaches and they’re really happy with his efforts.

“One of the big things those coaches are looking for, it’s not just the way they play the game…but you’ve got to have good character as well…and the coaches and the training staff, they preach a team-first mentality. Everybody has got to buy into that and I think Zack is a guy that can do that. He’s shown that he’s done that in the past.”

On the field, Humenny said he’s heard from the coaches that Weber has also become a much more technical player.

“He’s able to just read the play and get off blocks and be in a position to make a play,” Humenny said. “He’s got a few different pass rush techniques into his arsenal as well, which rather than just bull rushing straight ahead, he’s got a few different moves he’s going to use. That just shows a player who’s coachable and is working hard at what he’s being asked to do.”

All of this is great news for the Vikings this coming fall, who are expected to have a very strong year. In addition to Weber, starting quarterback Damon Dutton returns for his senior year, along with key offensive players Zach Wolfe and J.T. Lamb.

Last season, they went 4-2 and bowed out in the 3A semifinal to Marion Graham.

“We’re probably going to end up using him in a few different ways – maybe on offence in a few of our different sets just becasue he’ll be one of our seniors,” Humenny said of utilizing Weber on more than just defensive plays. “He’ll be one of our seniors, a Grade 12 guy and this will be his third year as a starter. We’re going to use him as much as we can to put us in a position to be successful.”

Team Saskatchewan will go up against Team Quebec in the final of the Football Canada Cup at 4 p.m. Saskatchewan time on Friday.

nathan.kanter@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @NathanKanter11

by Nathan Kanter

Vikings lineman Weber suiting up for U-18 Team Sask

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