Mohawks expect tough test from Buffalos in Rangeland final
The Medicine Hat Mohawks’ drive for five will reach a conclusion tonight at the Methanex Bowl.
The four-time reigning Rangeland Football Conference champions will be out to defend their long-standing crown once again when they cross paths with the Brooks Buffalos for tonight’s championship. While the Mohawks are a perfect 6-0 in league play and have held a stranglehold on the RFC for nearly half a decade, head coach Quinn Skelton says they’re expecting their stiffest challenge to date when things kick off at 7:30 p.m.
“We’ve got a lot of respect for what Brooks is capable of,” said Skelton, whose Mohawks are 8-0 including exhibition play. “They’ve got kids that are great athletes up there — slotbacks, runningbacks, receivers, they’re all quality, and their quarterback can move the ball real well. We know they can play. Defensively they’re tough and gritty, and they’re ranked in the top 10 in Tier 3 for a reason. It should be good.”
Mohawks quarterback Brody Brandham will lead the charge after throwing for 527 yards and 11 touchdowns with a 58 per cent completion rate this season. Elic Ayomanor has been Brandham’s primary target this season, finding the receiver for three touchdown passes and 138 yards on six catches, while Ashton Larson leads the rushing game with seven touchdowns and 291 yards on 24 carries.
“We don’t have to really count on the pass as much as we did last year,” said Brandham. “We’ve got so many weapons, I really just get to take my pick and most of the time they come down with the ball.”
Brooks enters the championship with a 4-3 record, most recently blemished in a 36-28 loss to Hat High to conclude the regular season — a much stronger effort than the 56-11 setback the Mohawks handed them at home in September.
“They’re definitely been doing their film. They could tell what we were doing, when we were doing it,” said Larson. “We’ve done a lot of work trying to do better than we did last week, making sure we do everything right, give them the cues we want to give them.
“We’ve worked with our corners and defensive backs, making sure we stay on them so no one can get past us.”
Brandham says a key difference between their two previous meetings against Brooks will be addressed with the return of five of six starters missing from last week’s victory, which will prove vital with zones and provincial playoffs just around the corner.
“It’s been a tough road without them ... Most of them are captains or Grade 12s,” said Brandham. “I know everybody else on this team is gunning for it and we have bigger plans ahead. We want to keep going. We’re pushing for an undefeated season and a provincial championship and this is the next step.”
Tonight’s RFC action kicks off with the Crescent Heights Vikings taking on the McCoy Colts for third place in the RFC at 5 p.m.