DON'T look to linebacker Tom Black to be a ra-ra kind of guy around the practice field or locker-room. He prefers to lead by example.

In three Winnipeg High School Football League games this year, Oak Park's Black has amassed 37 tackles and two sacks. His closest competition is Robert Jackson, a defensive lineman for the Grant Park Pirates, with 13.5 tackles. Still, Black's defending AAA champion Raiders have struggled this year, winning only once.

"I think we got it together after our last game (47-0 over Miles Mac Buckeyes)," said the son of former Blue Bomber Dave Black. "The first two games were close to where we should have been (34-7 loss to St. Paul's Crusaders and 13-0 loss to Sisler Spartans). We've improved after each week, so we're going in the right direction."

His coach Stu Nixon stands in awe of his 215-pound star. "Last week I watched him bench press 225 pounds 16 times, and he's fast too (4.8 seconds over 40 yards). He doesn't make the smashing hits that some linebackers do, but you won't catch him going the wrong way. If he's not in on the tackle, he is definitely around it."

There are nay-sayers who doubt Black's stats. "I've heard that a lot of people are accusing us of padding his stats," said Nixon. "I guess I can understand where they are coming from because I've never seen those kinds of stats before either."

"I don't concern myself with stats, the only thing that matters is the W," said Black, who has been to five American colleges hoping to land a scholarship. "Oregon State, Oregon, Stanford, Brown and North Dakota State are places I've been to so far, and I've sent them film."

Four games grace today's schedule, including the Raiders' visit to River East to take on the 0-3 Kodiaks at 5 p.m.

Black is as confident that they'll be there to defend their title Nov. 7 at Canad Inns Stadium. "Last year was the same thing. We lost to Sisler, St. Paul's and Churchill, and came back, played hard and improved to win the final. I think our chances of repeating are really good."

Other games at 5 p.m. today include St. John's at Elmwood, Sisler (2) at West Kildonan and Daniel Mac at Portage la Prairie. In a 1 p.m. game, Maples travels to Fort Frances, Ont.

allan.besson@freepress.mb.ca