NBCHS senior, Jaa Southgate and his Vikings teammates will play their first playoff game of the season Thursday, in the semi-finals versus Aden Bowman. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Playoffs begin

NBCHS Vikings ready for semi-finals test in Saskatoon

Oct 27, 2022 | 3:55 PM

The post-season journey begins tonight for the North Battleford Comprehensive High School Vikings football team.

The Vikings will hit the gridiron in Saskatoon Thursday for their first playoff game of the 2022 season, against the Aden Bowman Collegiate Bears.

Serving as the league’s 2v3 matchup, the Vikings finished just back of the Bears with a 4-2 record through their six-game regular season schedule.

The teams know each other well, having just played back on Oct. 13 in North Battleford, to wrap up the regular season.

A tight game throughout the night, the Vikings led the contest 10-6 at the half, before a Bears response down the stretch to squeak out a 13-10 victory by night’s end.

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Head coach of the Vikings, Mike Humenny said his team is ready for another strong challenge Thursday, now with the stakes raised and a spot in the league final on the line.

“It was a close contest the last time we played them, and we had opportunities to score but we just weren’t always able to capitalize,” he said. “We’ve made adjustments during the bye-week and through practices this week, and we’ve got a really good feeling heading into this game.

“All year long we’ve just been trying to get better every game, and now that the playoffs are upon us, we have an opportunity to go into Saskatoon and – if we’re successful – move on to play in the league final.”

As an added incentive for the Vikings, the champions of the Saskatoon league (of which they are a part) will also be chosen to host this year’s provincial final, featuring the top teams from each of Saskatchewan’s three 5A 12-aside leagues.

Humenny said while the prospect of that happening is certainly on the team’s radar, the most important thing for the group is staying present and focusing on the challenge ahead as it comes.

“I know it’s a cliché response, but we have to take it one game at a time, and step one of three is tonight.”

Thursday’s game will be played at SMF Field in Saskatoon, with kickoff at 7:30 p.m.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1