The Battlefords Minor Football Bucks took home their third-straight league championship this weekend in Saskatoon. (submitted photo/Paul Fransoo)

By Martin Martinson

Gridiron excellence

Battlefords dominate Saskatoon Minor Football ranks, as Bucks and Vikings post dual championships

Nov 4, 2019 | 5:00 PM

It was an all Battlefords outcome at the Kinsmen Football League (KFL) finals over the weekend, as both the BMF Bucks and North Battleford Junior Vikings took home their respective league championships in the Saskatoon Minor Football League ranks.

For the Bucks, the championship serves as the team’s third-consecutive league title over the last three years, defeating the Ledingham Steelers 42-28.

Head coach of the Bucks, Paul Fransoo said the reality of a third-straight championship is still setting in, adding that he’s extremely proud of what the team was able to accomplish.

“It is still a bit of a blur,” Fransoo said. “It is just starting to sink in, [and] now that I think about it, looking at what we did through the season; it’s exciting. I have to give credit to the kids, they pulled through and were resilient yesterday. [it was] probably the strongest game of the season as far as our competition was concerned.”

The Bucks finished the regular season 7-0, but the team’s run to the championship was not without adversity. During the final against the Steelers, the game remained tight throughout the first half with neither team gaining much of an edge.

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Fransoo said the key to ultimately finding success through their adversity came down to the club’s ability to regroup over half-time.

Coming out of the intermission break, the Bucks’ defence shut down the opening Steelers’ drive, forcing Ledingham to a three-and-out, turning over the ball. From there, the offence also began to hit their rhythm, leading to the ultimate 42-28 final.

The Bucks’ Peewee championship serves as the team’s third in three years. At the Bantam level, the Junior Vikings took home championship honours as well in their KFL return.

The Junior Vikings made their return to the KFL ranks a triumphant one, taking home their second league-championship in franchise history after a brief two-year hiatus. (submitted photo/Mike Humenny)

This was the Vikings’ first season back in the KFL after a two-year hiatus from the league. The Vikings’ were last a part of the KFL for four seasons from 2013 to 2016, winning the championship during the 2014 season.

Head Coach Mike Humenny said this season the team was able to return due to a number of coaches stepping up to make the move possible.

“[The staff] are super dedicated and they are able to relate to the kids in different ways, so we are truly lucky,” he said. That is one of the biggest reasons we were able to go back in the league, is because we knew we were going to have a good coaching staff that would put a good product on the field and make sure we are doing stuff right.”

The Vikings’ Juniors flew out of the gate this season, posting a 4-0 record to open the season, before dropping their final two games heading into the playoffs.

In the post-season however, the team bounced back quickly with a convincing semifinal win in Saskatoon last weekend. They then carried their momentum into the final, where the team ultimately capped the campaign with the league title, defeating the Schoenhals Titans 36-28.

Humenny said the championship contest came down to an all-hands on deck performance. The team moved some of their bigger bodies that normally play in the offensive line, and lined them up in the backfield as fullbacks, while also shifting their defensive scheme to an ultra-aggressive approach.

The coach said the full team’s buy-in to the system was critical to the club’s success in the final game.

“Heading into the final yesterday we made a few adjustments on offence and we seemed to be able to make some big plays at key times,” he said. “I think both of our lines of scrimmage, both [our] offensive and defensive lines, really contributed to our success here at the end of the year.”

The experience and championship pedigree gained by players on both the Bucks’ and Vikings’ teams this season should only bode well for the athletes as they continue their athletic endeavors with the local high school teams moving forward.

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1