Kainai Warriors look to future with optimism

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A two-win season has provided just enough spark to buoy the spirits of next year's Kainai high school Warriors football team.

The only all-First Nations squad in the province has not had much gridiron success in the previous two years, but for the Warriors the wins and losses are secondary to the purpose of fielding a team.

Coach Clayton Twigg, a physical education and shop teacher at the school, believes sports serve as a stay-in-school incentive for some students.

"It helps the kids to come back because if it wasn't for athletics, some of them wouldn't be in school," said Twigg , a member of the Warriors himself between 1978 and 1982.

"For myself, it helped me learn teamwork and to stand up for each other because you really get close with your team."

Twigg said the goal of the football program is to turn its players into good citizens, so there's no concern that Kainai won't field a team next year as it has done since 1956, winning its league in 1972.

That's why he's already anxiously eyeing 2003 after this year's 2-4 record. That mark included wins against another First Nations school from Browning, Montana and the last regular season game versus Pincher Creek.

The team was all smiles on Oct. 18 when it defeated the Mustangs 28-15 to clinch a playoff spot. With 25 Warriors dressed, a season high, it permitted Twigg to shuttle in three different quarterbacks in order to give them playing time and to confuse Pincher's defense.

"I'm looking forward to next year because we're only losing one player on our offensive line," said Twigg.

Defensive back Tim Scout is only a freshman and just five-foot-six, but he has received accolades from the coaching staff.

While lining up on the corner, Scout frequently would fill the middle of the field as a linebacker, a position more suited for players with more size. Scout believes his determination provides inspiration to other teammates.

"Because I'm a little guy, I'll get them pumped up. This is my sport because there's a lot of contact," Scout said with pride at representing the "K," as the school is nicknamed.

Pat Weaselhead is a Grade 12 student and a first year football player. He performed the game of his career, with two rushing touchdowns in the second quarter, plus a two-point conversion allowing Kainai to take a 22-7 lead into halftime.

Andrew Black Plume scored a third major on a dandy reverse from 35 yards out.

"Because I was running the ball up the gut, that confused them because they were concentrating on number 13," said Weaselhead, who shared quarterback and rushing duties with Brad Big Swallow.

Leading 22-15, the Warriors clinched the win with a late touchdown on a two-play drive that moved the ball 73 yards. A 31-yard reception to Black Plume was followed by a 42-yard catch by Weaselhead for his third TD.

Both passes were thrown by Big Swallow, a converted running back who became the team's QB when the position became vacant early in the year. While the senior won't be back for next season, he saw the positive changes that occurred on the squad in 2002.

"This is nice because we've been trying a lot harder. This year we have a whole new stack of boys who want to use their bodies and not their mouths," Big Swallow said, reflecting upon his three years with Kainai.

The Warriors lost their playoff game to Willow Creek to close the season. In spite of the physical contact and the emotions that happen in the sport, Twigg knows the bond is worth it in the end.

"The players know I love them and come Monday morning, they'll be in my office talking with me," Twigg said.