The phrase “all in” is a common sports cliché to describe a team chasing nothing less than a championship.
This year’s Varsity Interlake Thunder are hoping to fit that description, and they wasted no time showing they won’t be cliché in their play this fall.
On Sunday, the Thunder opened their season with a rematch of last year’s Rural Manitoba Football League Urban Division championship game against the St. Vital Mustangs.
St. Vital beat Interlake in last year’s final to complete a perfect season and capture a second straight title. This time, Interlake flipped the script with a 47-32 win at Stonewall Collegiate Field, ending the Mustangs’ bid for another perfect run.
The Thunder victory was led by Grade 10 backup quarterback Colten Leger, who stepped in during the second quarter after starter Jessie Batenchuk left with an injury.
Leger leaned on running back AJ Nadon—one of Batenchuk’s usual targets—and guided Interlake to his first career varsity win.
“He didn’t even bat an eye when he realized, ‘hey, Colten, you’re going in and we’re in the middle of a big game here, week one,’” said head coach Christof Hasselfield. “He didn’t try to play outside himself. He told us what he was comfortable with, he just did what was asked of him. When we needed throws, he got them there. We leaned on AJ and that O-line a lot to support him, but he was cool, calm, collected… just unflappable, really giving that Eli Manning look where he’s always the same no matter what’s going on.”
Nadon racked up 300 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns, while Jamie Dandeneau added 100 yards and a kick-return touchdown.
Leger’s debut hinted at what could be a strong quarterback option for the future once Batenchuk graduates. On Monday, Hasselfield confirmed Batenchuk has been cleared to return and is expected back for Week 2 against the Southwest Sabres.
Avoiding a long-term injury is as big a boost as the win itself, since the Thunder offence has been built around Batenchuk’s leadership the past two seasons. He is one of several Grade 12 players chasing a first championship under Hasselfield, now in his third season as head coach.
“We definitely see ourselves as championship contenders—we’ve been in the championship the last three years,” Hasselfield said. “But this really feels like the year we’re going to break through that glass ceiling. That’s the goal. There’s lots to work on—it is Week 1—but the expectation is we’re winning the championship this year. The players are on board, and the coaching staff is telling them we’ve got more than enough talent. Now it’s about putting in the work.”
This season also brings a new look for the RMFL. The Thunder play in the eight-team Doug Steeves Division alongside Dauphin, Moosomin, Southwest, St. Vital, Swan Valley, Virden, and Winnipeg. The group represents the province’s top varsity programs.
Each club plays a seven-game regular season, followed by semifinals featuring the top four teams. Interlake’s Week 1 win has them right in that mix.
“It makes every game important for playoff seeding,” Hasselfield said. “Even just to get a win against a contender like St. Vital—that’s a great one to have in the bag if it comes down to tiebreakers.”
The Thunder visit Souris on Sunday to face the Sabres. Kickoff is noon at Souris School.
