The Central Alberta Buccaneers made a statement last weekend in Calgary by posting a 43-32 win over last year’s National Championship finalists, the Calgary Gators.
They are for real.
The Bucs top the Alberta Football League standings with an unblemished 6-0 record and have likely clinched home field advantage when the playoffs begin.
It’s unfamiliar territory for the franchise which has been around 14 years and one player is keenly aware of what this means.
“It’s awesome. It’s been a lot of years of hard work, let me tell you but it feels like it’s finally paying off,” said veteran d-lineman Dave Henderson who worn jersey #1 for the Bucs since day one. . In fact, he scored the first ever points for the team in an exhibition game against the Edmonton Stallions.
He has been a stalwart on defence with the Bucs franchise since showing up for practice wearing his gold University of Manitoba Bison helmet.
“I’m proud to say that they put in a league rule that everybody had to have the same coloured helmet after I wore my gold helmet for a little bit.”
Henderson has seen this team at its lowest point and now easily the highest one. The feeling around the dressing room and on the field is very different, he says.
“It’s exciting to see the amount of guys committed and coming to practice. We had so many seasons where we came out being 0-3, 0-4, whatever and half way through the season, half the guys start dropping off.”
Henderson backs up his feelings about commitment by example. The soon to be 39 year old has been a mainstay in the AFL since his first time suiting up for the Bucs. Over the years he didn’t miss many practices or games. So what was driving him to continue to drag himself to play football every summer?
“Honestly a big part is it’s team mates. It’s the want to win, right,” he said. “When you love football as much as I do it’s easy to do.”
Henderson was part of some good Bucs teams in the early years in a league which was competitive but not nearly to the level it is now. He says the difference between the early years and this season is large.
“The level of talent has definitely risen in our league now that word has got out that there is another place for guys to come and settle in and play.”
The biggest difference he’s seen this season has been at the quarterback position. There were years when the Bucs offence dominated with a powerful run game, receivers with great hands and speed but the qb spot was good but still never as strong as it is right now.
“The way the ball comes out of his hand, it’s there in a heartbeat,” Henderson said, referring to quarterback Brandon Leyh. “That is the biggest difference on the team right now.”
On the other side of the ball Henderson is part of a defence with a motor revving at the highest RPM possible before red-lining. So how does the Grand Old Man of the Bucs fit into this high octane defence?
“My role has changed over the years. I’m finding that because I’ve been with this defence for so many years I’m familiar with it so when we get a new face or a different guy who is not familiar with it because we run such an aggressive, blitzing style that actually being like a teacher sometimes on the field helps.”
He doesn’t feel he’s lost a step over the years but admits after a game he does feel his age. It might take a little longer to recover but once he does he says he’s still feeling like a 15 year old kid trying to make the team.
“My mentality towards the way I approach the game hasn’t really changed and that’s what keeps me young is not realizing I’m getting old I guess.”
He’s not looking too far down the road but is feeling optimistic the Bucs chances of winning some hardware are very good if the team finishes the job they started in the same manner which has them this far.
Then, who knows if #1 suits up again.
