The Hafford Vikings have been a model franchise in recent years, having won provincials in each of the last three seasons, 2021, 2019 and 2018. (File photo/battlefordsNOW)

By Martin Martinson

Defending provincial champs

Hafford Vikings ready for football season

Sep 6, 2022 | 6:06 PM

Football season sits just around the corner for the Hafford Vikings.

The team, which is just beginning their third week of practices leading into the fall football season, will play seven games total this year, with their season opener this Thursday, Sept. 8 at Hague.

Due to the busy schedule this year, the team opted to go without a pre-season, instead choosing to focus on practices in the lead-up to their season opener this week.

Head coach Ryan Barnstable said despite a bit of a heat wave of late, the team has endured and is looking strong and feeling good heading into the season.

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“We’ve been working at it through the hot weather, and the kids have been working hard,” Barnstable said. “We don’t have a big roster this year with 13 players at the moment, so lots will have to play both offense and defense, but they’re going to do their best.”

The Vikings football team is made up of Grades 9-12, with some Grade 8s taking part in practices as well.

Barnstable said with a young group this year, the team will rely on their veteran core including Carter Burton and Daylon Lafreniere who each played both sides of the ball last year at both linebacker and tight end to lead the way for the team, with an opportunity for younger players to also step up and make an impact this year as well.

“We have some experience, though we are quite young this year with about five Grade 9s on the roster,” he said. “So we do have some talent in our younger years, and we’ll be looking for a few of those younger guys to step up and contribute in meaningful ways this year.”

The Hafford Vikings have been a force in recent years, having won 1A provincials in both 2021 and 2018, and 2A provincials in 2019, though the coach said no different than any other year, the key to success this season will be staying focused on the next game in front of them and the factors they can control.

“We’d obviously like to push for a provincial title, but our focus is more on just our own team and doing the best we can every week to get better,” Barnstable said. “That’s where our focus lies, playing the best we can every given game.”

Thursday’s season opener will be played in Hague, with a 4:30 p.m. kickoff. The Vikings’ home opener will be Sept. 29^th versus Big River at 7 p.m.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1