Teams in the Nova Scotia School Athletic Association Football League will be gunning to dethrone last year’s provincial champions, the Halifax Citadel Phoenix.
Coach Jeff Lawley is back for his 22nd season coaching the Phoenix. Returning to the team this season are quarterback Derek Brown and receiver Adre Fraser. Adrien Mopho is a rookie running back that will be one to look for on the field. Coach Lawley says that the team will be competitive and determined in defence of their title. He expects his players to give 100 percent on the field.
The Sir John A MacDonald Flames will be expected to push the Phoenix this season. Quarterback Matt Shannon will lead the Flames on the field along with running back Justin Stevens and linebacker Keith Langille. Rookie defensive tackle Shane Stonehouse will also be counted on to contribute.
Alan Wetmore, who is the only coach the Flames have had in their program for six seasons, describes what to expect on the field this season. “A fast, exciting team with a diverse offense that is well balanced and a defense that is high pressure and relentless,” says Wetmore. He adds that the team is “hard-nosed, blue collar with a great mix of precision execution”.
The key to the Flames success will be the players and their commitment to the sport. Wetmore says, “We have a young team full of experienced football players that are real football players.”
The Horton Griffins are another team to watch. Alec Hyndman is coaching the Griffins in their fifth year in the league. The team will be led by returning defensive back/full end Adam Melanson, running back Robert Adams and linebacker/wide receiver Will Stewart. Rookies that will be counted on to contribute on the field are defensive end Jacob Melanson and wide receiver/running back Cam Davidson.
Hyndman says the Griffins are focused this season: “We are a team of mostly grade 12’s that are in their third year with us and they know what it takes to be successful in this league.”
The Griffins will counter opponents with a running game and a solid defense. Keeping mistakes down and continuing with their ball control style offensive will be some of the things the Griffins hope to achieve for them to have any success. Clock and ball possession will also be key.
Rebuilding is going to be the theme for some of the teams in the league as Lockview Dragons are in this mode. Mike Korecki is in his seventh season coaching the Dragons. The team will have only 15 returning players and among them are offensive lineman Marcus MacIsaac, offensive lineman Ryan Cornish, wide receiver Brian Jones. On defense, defensive backs Tim Hart and Bill Dimitropolis will be returning along with linebacker Nick Gosse. Rookie quarterback Clarke Wyse and running back Daniel Mader will also be expected to contribute.
“As soon as we glee as a team we will be fine, we are young so we have to be smarter on and off the field,” says Korecki about the team. “This year’s team will play a pass and throw system and if your defense comes along we will be fine.”
Sackville High Kingfishers are another team rebuilding this year under new coach Joe Simatovic. He says that the team is very young and inexperienced; therefore, they will be constantly looking to improve over the course of the season.
“Act mature and respect your opponent and never quit,” says Simatovic of what he will be asking of the team during the season. As well, expect to see the Kingfishers to run the ball and show effort on the field.
Wide receiver/defensive back Evan Acosta, defensive back/linebacker Brandon Duhamel, and defensive player Curtis Ferguson will lead the Kingfishers. Players that may impact the Kingfishers on the field this season are defensive/offensive player Kyle MacDonald and running back Dustin Brogaard.
Auburn Eagles will be a team looking to improve on their record and build from their first playoff win last season. Returning players include receivers Trae Colley, Josh Thomas and Ryan Addison, as well as lineman Brendan Beerman, and Garrett Cavanaugh. Also expected to contribute are linebacker Ryan Willis, defensive back Davis Sala and running back Devon Taylor.
Rookies include running back Angus Fraser, running back Brandon Stubbs, linebacker Montell Thauvette and defensive linebacker John Cole. Quarterback Tyker Harvie could be the “X” factor in how the Eagles’ season goes.
The Eagles are a relatively new team in the league as this is their third season under coach Tom McMahon. He says that the Eagles will be disciplined, hard playing and mature. The players are dedicated, quick and all-round better athletes who take pride of being an Eagle.
“Yes, we are a young team with speed and talent, says McMahon of the team. “We will be a much more improved team this year than last.”
Another team looking for continued rebuilding on the field and with their football program is the Avon View Avalanche. The team was 0-8 last season so president/general manager and special teams coach Jim Bryan says any success would be an improvement and it is hoped that a new head coach will help develop the program.
The Avalanche will look to receiver J.P. Primeau, slotback Russ Lavergne, middle linebacker AJ Whitehead and lineman Dan Snow to lead the team. There will be a rookie quarterback in Trevor House and also new is middle linebacker J.J. Chambers. A player that could impact the success of the Avalanche would be Justin Dickenson.
Asked about what sort of team to expect the Avalanche to be on the field, Bryan says,”hard working, what we lack in talent we hope to outwork teams.” Furthermore, Bryan says that the team is optimistic about improvement this season.
“Hopeful, after a dismal year last year, with a strong new head coach, we can have some success for the athletes to build on,” adds Bryan.
Many teams will be looking to their senior players for leadership and the Halifax West Warriors are no exception. Under the coaching of Dave Kelly (who is in his eighth season), the Warriors will be building from the basics of the game and will use a “blue collar” style of game against opponents.
Key returning players for the Warriors are running back Zac Sellars, receiver Kyle Harris, quarterback Scott Borden, linebacker Brad Long, linebacker David Kunzli, and defensive tackle Jordan Grant. A rookie that will be one to watch on the field is running back David Nesbit. A player that could make a difference for the Warriors is Allan MacLeod.
Kelly says what to expect the Warriors to do as a team, “To be competitive every game and take the lessons learned in football and apply them to life outside the game.”
A team that may surprise many this season is the JL Ilsley Judges. Coach Steve Saunders says the team lost 19 starters so reliance will be on a very small number of players. The team will build on the positive of being able to score 31 points against the Phoenix their round one playoff loss.
Rene Rizkallal. whose the only three year starter and an offensive lineman with the Judges will be counted upon to lead the team. Colin Densmore, Justin Mabe and Jake Handrahan are three grade 12 players who could be the difference for the Judges this season.
Coach Saunders says that the Judges could surprise many in the league with a few wins and likes the Judges chances.
“We could be in a way as we are blessed with a lot of talented but young kids,” says Saunders who enters this season having 20 years of coaching under his belt. “I don’t think we have what it takes to go all the way but, could give a few teams a go…I think we will be competitive to play and with a few lucky bounces, you never know, maybe a few wins.”
The key to success for the Judges this season will be how quick players will learn and the injury bug. Saunders says that since the school is small and there is no minor football, the desire of the players will be important in their success. The Judges plan to run the football a lot more than last season.
While the Prince Andrew Panthers are hoping to improve on their 1-7 record last season, the team has a special focus this season.
“Our Team has a unified focus and they’re standing shoulder to shoulder,” says head coach Joe Flemming. “They’ve formed a tight bond while playing together in our city’s minor program.”
“When you couple that with a team that’s eager to honor a teammate they lost in the spring to Suicide, you can’t get much tighter. Even in loss, these guys won’t be shaking from their focus.”
The Panthers will be led by tailback Andrew Klain. Also part of the charge will be returning quarterback Riley Potter, defensive back/special teams player Dylan Cossar, linebacker Aaron Clarke James, defensive player Phoenix Grouse, defensive player Jared Brooks and offensive player Luke McCabe. Among the rookies to watch for the Panthers are fullback/linebacker Ian Melanson, kicker/receiver/backup quarterback Nate Skeete, and defensive player Oshane Johnson.
Flemming, who is in his second season as Panthers head coach says that the team will execute a hard hitting run game option with a compliment pass package and utilize their strength of their special teams against opponents. With experienced coaches says Flemming, the team will gain more structure. As well, the Panthers hope that their team cohesion will help in improving on last season.
(Photo from John Decoste, The Kings County Advertiser/Register)
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