SAN ANTONIO, Tex — Two Central Cyclones’ linebackers are getting the opportunity to show what they can do down in Texas this week.

Hunter Morgan and Brant Schwengler are both starting linebackers for the Saskatchewan Selects’ 16-and-under team, which will be competing in the 2018 Alamo City Pigskin Classic in San Antonio, Texas this weekend.

The duo have played together for the past few seasons at Central Collegiate and feel that will be a huge benefit when they hit the field for the tournament.

“We’re pretty close, so we’ve got pretty good chemistry and communication when we’re on the field, so it’s pretty great,” said Morgan.

Central linebacker Hunter Morgan manning the defence during practice on Wednesday in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo: Marc Smith)

The linebackers are generally the quarterbacks of the defence, so with two players that have a good sense for each other before the first practice is a big benefit.

Schwengler said they’re going to use that to their advantage, “It’s be great to be playing with Hunter,” he said. “Me and him have been buddies for a while now and we have great chemistry. We have a sense of what both of us have for strengths and weaknesses, so we know when to help out.

“It’s a great that we have two Central linebackers playing together.”

The Selects went through their first day of practice in San Antonio on a rainy day on Wednesday. They will hit the field for a few more practices before their first games on the weekend.

Morgan said the team was able to get a lot done during that first workout, despite the consistent downpour.

“It’s pretty wet, slippery, boys were getting pretty muddy, but coach wanted an efficient practice and we got a lot done in an hour, so it went pretty well,” he said.

The Selects will be squaring off with teams from Texas, California and Mexico this weekend. They’ve been practicing for three months together to prepare.

Schwengler said the squad is ready to go, “We’re one more step closer to the games and hopefully a championship,” he said.

“We need to have the mindset that these players are exactly the same as us, they put on their socks the exact same way, there’s nothing too different, except we’re playing on their rules.”

The tournament will kick-off on Saturday and is a double knockout format. The Selects’ 16U team will face off with a team from Monterey Bay in California for their opening game.