HUMBOLDT — New conference. Same goal.
That could be the Humboldt Mohawks’ motto for this coming nine-man football season. The 2018 3A runners-up have moved to conference four and are looking for another successful campaign.
“We are looking forward to putting in the time and effort to generate another competitive season, and another shot at the championship,” Mohawks head coach Cory Popoff said.
The squad’s main camp starts on Aug. 26. Last season Humboldt’s lone loss was to Lumsden in the championship game. The first game of this season will be on Sept. 13 in Humboldt against Martensville.
The move to conference four, which was decided in June, was necessary to balance the nine-man conferences. Humboldt’s previous conference, one, had five teams while four had three. Two teams had dropped out of conference four late in the year, Popoff said. Geographically it made sense for the Mohawks to join a conference with Martensville, Delisle, and North Battleford’s John Paul II.
“Change is a good thing, an opportunity to learn and grow as a team,” Popoff said. “We know that we will face quality programs in conference four, just like we did in conference one.”
In conference one, the Humboldt team had tangled with Melfort, Nipawin and La Ronge. The realignment will mean some shorter road trips for the Mohawks.
“Yes, our travel per year will decrease, so this move will be slightly easier on our pocketbook,” Popoff said. “We will miss playing our rivals though.”
CJFL
Some former Mohawks will be competing this season in the Canadian Junior Football League. The perennial powerhouse Saskatoon Hilltops have five former Humboldt players in Jared Giddings, Tristan Hering, Ethan Paslowski, Jordan Seipp, and Dawson Hering. The Hilltops, who have won five straight Prairie Football Conference titles, open the season in Winnipeg on Aug. 18.
Former Mohawks player Ryley Amendt has already seen action with the Kelowna-based Okanagan Sun of the B.C. Football Conference.
