High school senior bowl the end of the beginning

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This article was published 21/05/2015 (3822 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

THEY are the best of the best high school football players in this province, many of them moving on to play college or junior football on both sides of the border.

And so while one chapter closes this Saturday with the annual Winnipeg High School Football League Senior Bowl, another will soon be opening. But the chance to represent their high school for one more game does have special meaning for the 100 or so players who will slug it out in the trenches in the annual classic.

“This is a way to cap off a memorable high school career,” said St. Norbert receiver Cole Coyston, who will soon be trying out for the Okanagan Sun. “It was amazing. Great coaches, great teammates all around and, overall, a great experience.

“Playing high school football helped me grow a lot as a student and a young man. I got to meet other players and coaches and teammates… it was unreal.”

It won’t be long, just a few months, before Randy Sanderson trades in his Sisler jersey for the colours of the University of Manitoba Bisons. A mammoth 6-4, 300-pound offensive lineman who can play tackle, guard or centre, Sanderson was blunt when asked what lining up for the Spartans did for his career.

“If I didn’t go to Sisler and take advantage of the weight room, I wouldn’t be here right now,” he said. “This game is going to be a fun time.”

Machuor Akau’s tale has a few more chapters to it than some of his teammates. Born in Kenya, his family moved to Canada when he was eight. But he didn’t find football until Grade 10 at Oak Park.

And over the last few years he has transformed from a 6-0, 135-pound defensive back to a 6-2, 230-pound defensive end who will be playing for the Carleton Ravens and studying criminology next fall.

“I just fell in love with the game,” said Akau. “I played defensive back and loved it, but I love defensive line as well. I trained with (former Bison and now Edmonton Eskimo) Eddie Steele a lot. He’s my defensive-line coach at Recruit Ready. He’s the person who motivated me to play defensive line.

“This is just another opportunity to play with your fellow seniors one more time before we are off to our respective colleges. One chapter is ending, another starting.”

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @WFPEdTait