Despite claiming a long-awaited city football crown, Jesse Austin knows his job isn’t over yet.
The fifth-year Westgate Tiger lineman wants to go out a winner in what will undoubtedly be the biggest game of his life, even if it has meant some early morning practices.
"I'm humbled to come back in my fifth year and win a championship, but the games aren't over yet," Austin said Monday.
The city-champion Tigers conclude their senior football campaign with their Ontario Federation of Schools Athletic Associations bowl game against the St. Mary Monarchs of Pickering on Thursday.
This year the bowl matchups were determined by random draw, meaning that for the first time a Thunder Bay squad faces a southern Ontario foe.
Austin knows the Tigers will be viewed as the underdogs.
"Thunder Bay doesn't get a whole lot of respect down there," he said.
Westgate head coach Mike McNally said his team is ready to prove doubters wrong.
"They're feeling a lot of pressure to perform," McNally said.
"A lot of people are downplaying us coming down. Our guys are motivated. They want to show what we're about."
Westgate will have to go into the game without their leading rusher, as running back Caleb White is in Colorado pursuing competitive skiing.
McNally is confident his two other backs will be able to fill the void of White, who averaged upwards of 100 yards per game.
"We've very rarely had all three running backs healthy and ready to go," he said.
"Tucker Arnold and Cody Sheedy run the ball hard so I know it's tough to replace Caleb's production but I think the guys we have can do it."
The most daunting task for the Tigers will be containing the LOSSA MVP, the Monarchs quarterback Raishaun Provo.
McNally said he's heard coaches compare the dual-threat Provo to former NFLer Daunte Culpepper.
"We have to find a way to shut down the throw-running quarterback," McNally said.
The Tigers have experience handling a similar quarterback, as they were able to contain Churchill's Justin Fui in the senior final.
The game will be played on Thursday at Etobicoke Centennial Stadium at 11:30 a.m.
