Duncan Critch earns MVP at U16 Western Challenge

Duncan Critch carries the ball against British Columbia the game he earned MVP honours. Image credit: Football Alberta.

The kid has another honour under his belt.

Football player Duncan Critch continues to impress at the higher levels of football.

Critch earned the offensive player MVP in Team Alberta’s opening game 26-21 loss to British Columbia, where he racked up over 100 yards rushing in the inter-provincial tournament.

Alberta came back in their second game to earn the bronze medal at the tournament with a dominating 69-0 victory over Manitoba, which snapped their two-year streak of first-place finishes.

Critch scored a 26-yard touchdown to open the scoring.

He said the experience of playing with the best in the province is motivating.

“It’s always a competition. Every practice is a competition. Every game is a competition. Guys have to be on their A-game. Someone can take your job in a day,” said Critch.

“The starters were up and that day some of them change. You always have to be prepared to go out and perform at your highest level. With guys like that, you never know what’s going to happen.”

Critch was on the team last year that won the Western Challenge.

He scored two second-half touchdowns to secure the win in the pivotal gold-medal game against Manitoba.

Perhaps his success comes from his support group – his family.

Younger brother Connor received an invite to Team Alberta camp, while older brother Brody will be Duncan’s teammate next year.

“It’s a big support group. I wouldn’t be able to do it without them. All the time in the gym, all the time in BC, all the time in Edmonton last year, they were there for all of it,” he said.

“It’s a great thing to have that support group around you. For Connor, he’s going to be something special. Same for Liam and Brody. I just hope we all perform and have fun and don’t get hurt.”

This upcoming football season will be Critch’s first at the high-school level playing for the Bonnyville Voyageurs.

He’s excited to be suiting up alongside teammates he hasn’t suited up with since his first year of peewee football.

“I’m expecting myself to just go and have a big impact: start off firing, winning games, and hopefully winning a championship and see what we can do as a team.”

Football camps begin mid-August.