It's their Grey Cup. Being named to the 2013 Ed Henick Senior Bowl is the ultimate honour for high school football players in Saskatchewan.
No one knows that better than the five students from North Battleford Comprehensive High School named to the senior bowl North Team roster.
"I'm pretty excited to play in it because it's probably the biggest game I've played in since I started playing football, it's pretty big for me," said Codi Custer, defensive back for the NBCHS Vikings.
It's not all about the game, though. This marks the end of the players' high school careers, and it's a fitting way to say goodbye.
"It felt great to get the opportunity to play with the boys from North Battleford one more time and give myself a chance to showcase my talent at a higher level at the senior bowl," said Tanner Craig, running back.
The senior bowl is the all-star game for Grade 12 students in Saskatchewan. The best players from the north take on the best from the south in 12-man football. Each have a 40-player roster.
There are separate games for six-man and nine-man teams.
Joey Carriere plays on the defensive line and had to work hard to get to this point after separating his shoulder playing hockey.
"It felt pretty great, as soon as I found out I was excited, and it's just a great feeling," he said. "It's been a rough offseason battling through injuries and going through the weight room."
As hard as the players worked, they're quick to give credit where credit's due.
"It's all thanks to coaches here, they've been working me hard, hitting the gym, so it's a great accomplishment. I'm really proud to make the team," said Jordan Elliott, offensive lineman.
He plays directly alongside fellow offensive lineman Kavan Metcalve, who also made the senior bowl roster.
"It's a really big deal, it will be a lot of fun, all the work paid off through high school," said Metcalve.
So often behind great players is a great coach, and the Vikings' superstars are no exception. Head Coach Jamie Sommerfeld was rewarded for his hard work by being named to the coaching staff of the senior bowl North Team.
"It's a very proud moment, not only as the head coach here, but as being part of the school. It's nice to see our school athletes go on and get some recognition for all the hard work they've put in in the off seasons," he said.
Just like his players, Sommerfeld is quick to recognize everyone involved.
"I'm very excited. I get to go being named as the head coach, but really it's kind of piggy-backing off the staff that we have. We have an amazing staff here, without them, we wouldn't see any successes at all," he said. "As much as I'd like to take credit, it falls on our coaching staff as a whole."
A game with this level of importance can put ample pressure on players, but high-quality football isn't new to these Vikings. Last season the team made it all the way to the city finals of the Saskatoon league before losing to Bishop James Mahoney High School.
This year's senior bowl game is on Victoria Day at Regina's Mosaic Stadium. The North Team led by the Vikings will look to knock off the seven-time defending champion South Team.
