Coach Jamie Sommerfeld admits the plan, after taking over the North Battleford Comprehensive High School Vikings senior football team, was a four year plan.
This is year four, and Sommerfeld is convinced the Vikings can be a legitimate threat in the Saskatoon Secondary Schools Athletic Directorate League this season.
The Vikings were on the field this week preparing for their season opener Thursday, when they will host the Evan Hardy Souls.
Last season, Evan Hardy finished the regular season with a 4-2 record and beat the Vikings 51-10.
Without being over confident, Sommerfeld believes his team can earn a win in week one, saying the team is further ahead and more mature at this point this season than they were in the final weeks of the 2010 campaign.
Not only is the future now for the Vikings, but with a great feeder system with the NBCHS junior Vikings the future continues to look bright for a coaching staff who has put in countless hours for the football program.
Tanner Craig, Grade 11, will be a captain on the team and with the likes of linebacker Spencer Cave, halfback Cody Buziak, offensive lineman Jordan Elliott and quarterback Cole Tenetuik most aspects of the game have these leaders willing to help propel this team into the top half of the standings.
Tenetuik has been re-converted to the quarterback position, as he was the team's top running back last season. He played quarterback as a junior Viking and after Cole Omelchenko graduated he is the Vikings best option behind centre. According to Sommerfeld he has just the right balance of self-confidence and being humble and open to critique from the coaches.
The Vikings' offence should be able to keep pace with most teams with a veteran core of receivers and a reputation for developing strong running backs.
All the predictions and optimistic plans will be put to the test and come Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Beaver Lions Stadium and none of those things will matter once the Vikings take to the field. It will be up to the players to prove they will fit in with the elite teams in the SSSAD League in 2011.
