BY SCOTT HADDOW
The Lockerby Vikings football team knows its
a contender at this year's Northern Ontario Secondary School's
Athletics (NOSSA) semifinal championship.
Last year, after winning the Sudbury title,
Lockerby was thumped 14-3 by Sir James Dunn school of Sault
Ste. Marie in the NOSSA semifinal.
This year, Lockerby once again reigned
supreme as the Nickel City champions after they dispatched
Confederation 7-6 last Friday night.
The NOSSA semifinal game takes place in North
Bay this Saturday, Nov. 5. Lockerby will go toe-to-toe with the
Widdifield Wildcats of the Gateway City.
The biggest difference between last year's
team and this year's is confidence, and Lockerby head coach
Geoff Richer has his troops in the right frame
of mind for the big game.
"Getting another shot at NOSSA is great,"
said Richer. "Last year, we went to Sault Ste. Marie with the
majority of the team thinking we didn't have a shot. By the
time the team realized they could contend at that level it was
too late."
Going to a NOSSA semifinal for a second
straight year means only one thing to the team.
"We want to win," said Richer.
If Lockerby wins, then they would host the
NOSSA championship game here in Sudbury against a team from
Sault Ste. Marie on Nov. 12.
Richer will be looking for his offence to
play a prominent role in the NOSSA semifinal game this
weekend.
"Our offence needs to step up and put some
points on the board and stop relying on our defence to keep the
game in reach," said Richer.
Linebacker Jason Cecchini will accept nothing
but an all-out effort by everyone on the team on
Saturday.
"It's good for us to be going back to NOSSA
because last time we just weren't good," said Cecchini.
"Hopefully, we will win this time. To do that, we need our
offence going. We will have to pass a lot for success."
There are many components of the Vikings'
game that are clicking right now.
"We control the ball well and move it good,"
said Cecchini. "We have an excellent kicking game and our
defence is playing great."
Vikings captain and starting quarterback,
Brett McKnight believes the team is ready for the challenge of
NOSSA competition this year.
"It's nice to get another chance at NOSSA,"
said McKnight. "Not too many teams get that opportunity.
Everybody has to play a full game and give 100 percent. If we
do that, we should be able to win and move on. We're coming
together as a team right now and we're all going to come out
trying
hard."
Lockerby has also benefitted from some local
help. Frank Rocca, head coach of the St. Benedict football
team, has lent his expertise to the Vikings coaching
staff.
"Frank has come out to our practices and his
offensive knowledge has helped," said Richer.
