After a challenging game last weekend that was called off due to injuries, the Viragos are preparing to face Swan Valley this Saturday as they aim to solidify their position in the Prairie Girls Football League.
“We went into Moosomin with 11 players and thought we’d be alright, but we had some injuries. By halftime, it was 54-12, and we had to call the game because we were down to six players,” said head coach Mark Tribiger.
“Now, we’re actually only down about two players. After practice yesterday, we figured out that the others were just bumps and bruises, and some of the players thought they were hurt worse than they actually were.”
Tribiger attributed the injuries in part to the team’s younger roster.
“It’s just a younger team, right? They aren’t used to the toughness it takes to play football,” he said.
The Viragos will head to Swan Valley for their first matchup this season against the team, which is new to the league. Both teams hold 0-4 records, with the Viragos currently in third place, just above Swan Valley.
“As long as we can pull out a win there and then another win after Thanksgiving, we’ll finish the season in third place,” Tribiger said. “Hopefully, we can go back to Moosomin to play them in the first round of the playoffs.”
“Other than having to forfeit one game, we’ve had a pretty good showing this season, with our offence stepping up significantly from last season, as well as our defence.”
Tribiger said interest in the sport has been strong, with a few new players still joining the team.
“The ones who are still here are going to stick around, and we’ve had a couple more come out in the last week or so. They look super promising, and we’re hoping to build on what we’ve got this year,” he said.