Third time a charm?

Sisler returns to WHSFL final, this time against new foe

November 6, 2007

By JIM BENDER, SUN MEDIA

The Oak Park Raiders ruined their hopes for revenge.

Now the Sisler Spartans hope they do not become another upset victim.

The Raiders surprised the St. Paul's Crusaders -- who were seeking a three-peat -- 9-8 in a Winnipeg High School Football League semifinals last week to advance to the ANAVET Cup final against Sisler.

"We were hoping to meet (St. Paul's) again," Spartans running back/kick returner R.J. Cornish said yesterday. "They beat us every single year I've played so we were hoping to get a chance to beat them once in our high school lifetime. But I guess it won't happen now."

The Spartans, who bounced the Churchill Bulldogs 29-7 in the other semifinal, are making their third straight appearance in the final.

"They (Raiders) are just on top of the world," said Spartans head coach Rick Hudson, who will guide two different Sisler teams on championship day. "They did what no one else could do for the last three years so you've got to take your hats off. It's going to be a great game."

The three division finals have been re-scheduled to next Monday from Friday at Canad Inns Stadium because the CFL is painting logos on the field for Sunday's Eastern semifinal between the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Montreal Alouettes.

The surging Kildonan East Reivers will challenge the 6-1 Kelvin Clippers in the Vidruk Division final while the upstart Murdoch MacKay Clansmen will face Sisler 2 in the Currie Division championship.

Oak Park head coach Stu Nixon hopes his players will not be too high after gaining confidence by bouncing the defending champs.

"I'm hopin' it's not too much confidence," said Nixon, who once coached with Hudson at Sisler. "You try to keep a level head about it but we felt we could do it from the first time we played in an exhibition game."

Even after losing to the Crusaders during the regular season, the Raiders did not give up hope.

"That (win) was pretty satisfying," said Oak Park linebacker Tom Black (son of former Bomber offensive lineman David Black). "Our team played well and we'd been wanting that the whole season. St. Paul's hadn't been beaten in three years and that was a pretty big win.

"Everyone thought it was an upset but we all knew that it really wasn't."

Both head coaches believe Sisler has an advantage because the Spartans have been there before.

"That's something else we're going to have to overcome," Nixon said. "The best way to do it is just focus, concentrate, try to execute what we're supposed to be doing."

Hudson concurred.

"All the hoopla and the rest that goes along with it can sap your attention and what-not," said Hudson, who is determined to finally win the final. "The first time and even the second time, you're happy to be there. Sure, we're happy to be here (again) but you want more, you do want more."

The Reivers, who rebounded from an 0-5 start, hope to upset Kelvin. Murdoch MacKay is a first-year squad that posted an impressive 6-1 record and will take on Sisler 2 (7-0), the only unbeaten team in the WHSFL.

WHSFL CHAMPIONSHIPS

- When: Monday, Nov. 12

- Where: Canad Inns Stadium

- Tickets: $3

Games

Currie Division

Murdoch MacKay Clansmen vs. Sisler Spartans 2, 2:30 p.m.

Vidruk Division

Kildonan East Reivers vs. Kelvin Clippers, 5 p.m.

Potter Division

Oak Park Raiders vs. Sisler Spartans, 7:30 p.m.