Students weren’t back in the classroom until yesterday, but the Yorkton Regional High School Raider Gridders have been on the practice field since Aug. 23.
“We started last Thursday,” said head coach Roby Sharpe, adding “it’s a league rule” in terms of how early a team can start practicing.
With only a few days in the field, Sharpe said he is liking what he has seen so far, starting with the numbers, about 30 players most days.
“Before school starts that is a really good number for us,” he said, adding traditionally the team picks up another 10 players once school starts.
Looking toward the future, Sharpe added “the junior team has about the same numbers.”
The strong junior program is important because it means high school football readies players for Sharpe’s senior team.
“We don’t have too many come to us without experience,” he said.
Speaking of experience, the Raider Gridders return a veteran at quarterback. Jordan Rusnak, the league’s Most Valuable Player in 2017, is back as a Grade 12.
Sharpe said Rusnak is an example of a player who has developed through the minor football program in the city.
“He’s played quarterback since he was eight-years-old,” Sharpe said.
While an experienced pivot is good news for the offence, Sharpe said he expects his defence to be stingy.
“We graduated a few players, but the guys moving up are just as good,” he said. “We’re going to be a swarming team on defence.”
Still, it takes good play both ways in football.
“I feel we’ll be really well-rounded. We’ve got really good size, not humongous, but big. And we’ll be fast.”
The season for the Raider Gridders begins Saturday as they travel to Weyburn.
Yorkton’s first home game will see Central from Moose Jaw visit for the annual ‘Friday Night Lights’ game Sept. 14.
