ST. PAUL – As the leaves start to turn, the St. Paul Bengals and Lions have returned to the gridiron with their eyes set on another championship run.
The crown weighs heavy, admits Derek Zapisocki, head coach for the bantam Bengals. “We’re two-time defending [Wheatland Bantam Football League] and provincial champion, so we definitely got a bullseye on our back,” he says. “Everybody wants to beat us.”
Despite the target on their back, and the possibility of the pressure descending upon the team’s roster, the head coach speaks with an air of calm.
The mental game is simple, he says.
“I would tell them . . . we take it one game at a time . . . As long as we do our part, get the kids and the coaches ready to play on game days, and they show up with a good attitude and put in the work . . . what happens – happens.”
Of course, winning the championship remains the biggest goal and challenge, but Zapisocki expresses his confidence.
The team has welcomed a new offensive coordinator - Dave McLellan, and Zapisocki says he looks forward to a new offensive game for the Bengals.
“We’ve also got quite a bit of talent. We have a few returning players from last year, and some new kids that are stepping right in and taking some starting roles,” he says. So far, the players shows promise.
“Our spring jamboree went fairly well, so all the coaches as a whole are pretty excited with the upcoming season.”
Zapisocki encourages fans and the community to come out and watch to show their support for both the Bengals and the senior high Lions this season.
“It’s going to be some good football this year. We got two really good teams coming on the field.”
The Bengals will kick off the 2024 Wheatland Bantam Football League season at home on Sept. 7 against Wainwright.
The St. Paul Lions will host the Cold Lake Royals on Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. for week one of the Wheatland Football League.