Grade 11 running back piling up
big outings
By Darren
Steinke
Gordie Howe Sports Complex
Samuel LaFreniere jets downfield for the Guardians. |
The Grade 11 running back with the St. Joseph High School Guardians had simple beginnings in the sport, which saw him get a chance to step on the turf of the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders storied former home in Taylor Field. The park was also known as old Mosaic Stadium.
“I started playing flag football since I was like
six-years-old,” said LaFreniere. “We went down, and we got invited down to the
Mosaic Stadium when we were like seven, which was pretty cool.
“We didn’t do very good, but there were a lot of good teams
there.”
As a youngster, LaFreniere remembers it was big for him to
play on the same field as the Roughriders. He recalls soaking in every moment
he was on the field.
“It was crazy just being in there with all the stands
compared from the stands here going into a stadium,” said LaFreniere. “You look
around, and you just say, ‘Oh my God, I want to play here someday.’”
From those
first memories, LaFreniere, who also competes in track and field, continued in
football playing KFL for Clavet. He then attended Centennial Collegiate in Grade 9
before transferring over to St. Joseph in Grade 10. The football field is the
place that keeps growing as a second home.
“I love the contact and going around and smacking some
helmets, and the atmosphere under the lights and being around your friends on a
football field,” said LaFreniere, who has taken part in his share of games at
Saskatoon Minor Football Field. “There is nothing better.”
In 2024,
LaFreniere is having a banner year. He made numerous big plays suiting up for
Team Green in the league run by the Saskatoon Minor Football’s North Sask
Academy program in spring. He then played for Football Saskatchewan’s under-17
team before hitting the turf for his second season with the Guardians.
Samuel LaFreniere made big plays with Team Green. |
“I thought I could come in and make a difference and help
them out,” said LaFreniere, who stands 5-foot-10 and weighs 155 pounds. “The
coaches said that I would be a good help to them.”
Guardians
head coach Chad Palmer said his staff has enjoyed having LaFreniere on the
team. The sideline boss said the 16-year-old player is gifted when it comes to
playing the game.
“Anytime a guy
can come in Grade 10 and play, you know that is a special player,” said Palmer.
“He (LaFreniere) has advanced this year.
“If you look at
the stats, he is carrying what we’re doing on offence and putting up huge
numbers. Guys like that for as long as I’ve coached don’t come around that
often. It is special to have a guy like that.”
Off the field,
Palmer said LaFreniere is very personable.
“Sam (LaFreniere) is a great guy,” said Palmer. “All of my
guys are great guys.
“I have no issues with any guys off the field. Sam likes to
talk about fantasy football and joke around. He also refs KFL and refs NFL
flag.
“He is a football guy.”
Samuel LaFreniere has had monster games for the Guardians. |
“They’re always there helping out,” said LaFreniere.
“They’re always there for me, which is amazing, and always supporting me.”
He added his older brother and various teammates he has had over
the years have also played a key role in keeping him in the sport.
“Lots of my friends that I’ve grown up with playing, they’re
always there helping you out on the sidelines always being there for you,” said
LaFreniere.
When it
comes to carrying the football, LaFreniere makes it a point to focus on running
inside, which he believes will help him the long he is in the game. He adds he
has seen his share of running backs just try to rely on breaking everything to
the outside.
“The vision of it is you’re always pressing inside and
waiting for it and being patient behind your O-line and trusting that they’re
going to open up a hole for you,” said LaFreniere. “If it doesn’t happen, then
you just always have the outside to burst to.”
During his
time with the Guardians, LaFreniere said he looks forward to rivalry games
against the Holy Cross High School Crusaders. A large contingent of fans from
both schools make it out to SMF Field when the Guardians and Crusaders collide.
On October
4, the two squads engaged in an epic encounter at SMF Field that saw the Crusaders edge the
Guardians 29-28. LaFreniere had over 290 yards rushing in that contest, while
Crusaders star Grade 12 running back Aulain Penner recorded over 220 yards
along the ground.
“It is always like you walk on the field, and you’re eyeing
each other up,” said LaFreniere. “You’re always looking at each other.
Samuel LaFreniere enjoys rivalry games against Holy Cross. |
“It is always a great game to come out and watch and have
fun.”
Looking to
the future when his high school days are done, LaFreniere said he leans towards
playing post-secondary football outside of Saskatoon.
“I’d like to move away,” said LaFreniere. “I’d like to go
somewhere big.
“Going D1 (NCAA Division I) would be amazing. Going over
there to the (United) States would be great. UBC would be amazing.
“I would love to stay. If I got an offer to U of S,
absolutely, I’d love it. I’d like to go see some other places and move around a
tiny bit.”
At the
moment, LaFreniere is focused on making great memories playing for the
Guardians and that he still has a Grade 12 campaign to suit up for. He
cherishes the memories and the days he gets to play at St. Joseph High School.
“I think they’re great,” said LaFreniere. “The boys that you’re
always around, the friends.
“Under the lights and the great atmosphere that you’re
always with, it is amazing. The coaches are always there for you, always
backing you up and always having your back. All the guys with you, it is so
much fun.”
Palmer is also pumped to have LaFreniere for one more season and to see what else the skilled tailback can do for the rest of his high school playing days.
Samuel LaFreniere, left, aims to contunue to power past defenders. |
“It is definitely a luxury to have a guy like this for three
years.”
To see the 2024 schedule for high school football, check out the Saskatoon Secondary Schools Athletics Directorate site at sssad.net/schedule/.