It’s been four years since the Peacock Tornadoes entered a season coming off a loss in their final game the year before.

That’s the case this year after the Tornadoes lost in the provincial final last fall, but that’s also providing some extra motivation for the five-time defending league champions as they get set to kick-off the 2017 Moose Jaw High School Football League season on Saturday.

“It’s a different team this year, what other year’s teams don’t have that much weight on us, but the guys that loss last year have been working hard to get better for this year,” said Shawn Campbell, a senior defensive back with the Tornadoes.

The Tornadoes went a perfect 6-0 again last year in the regular season and cruised to the league championship with a 57-20 win over the Swift Current Colts in the title game.

Peacock’s 24-13 loss to the Saskatoon Bishop J. Mahoney Saints in the 3A provincial final last November snapped a 37-game win streak for the Tornadoes.

Receiver Payton Chow said this year’s team is focused on starting a new streak.

“I’ve been waiting for this season for a long time, ever since last year’s provincials, I’ve just wanted to get back on the field,” he said.

“Our veterans are motivated to get that provincial title again.”

There will be a bit different look to the Tornadoes this season with a number of long-time starters graduating, but also a change on the sidelines as Bert Redstone takes over for Blake Buettner as head coach.

Redstone said while he’s in a new role, not much will change about Tornadoes football.

“Luckily enough, I ended up with both of our coordinators come back, so Derrick Huschi is going to run the defence and we’ve got coach (Bryan) Adams running the offence, so a lot of it is going to look the same,” said Redstone.

Redstone is excited about getting the season underway and the new players that they have stepping into position for departing veterans.

“We’ve moved Garrick Ward, who’s been our big slot back for the last few years, into quarterback and he’s been handling it really well, better than we ever could have expected, just great command, nice guy and listens to the coaches,” said Redstone.

“Dallas Lister in grade 11 is looking real good on the defensive side, Jackson Woloschuk, we’ve had him all over the place and we’ve got a great crew on the defensive line, so the defence looks solid again.”

The Tornadoes will open the season with a showdown against the rival Central Cyclones and that’s added to the excitement for the start of the season.

“A football game is a football game, we still have to go out and do what we need to do, but there’s a bit more excitement for this one,” said Campbell.

“It’s always an exciting way to kick-off the year, there’s a lot of pride on the line.”

The Tornadoes and Cyclones hit the field at 3:15 p.m. as the second half of a season-opening doubleheader at Gutheridge Field. The early game will have the Vanier Vikings going up against the Estevan Elecs at 1 p.m.

Also on opening day, the Swift Current Colts will travel to Weyburn to face the Eagles.

HS Football Preview:
- Central Cyclones
- Vanier Vikings