UCC Lancers aiming for a three-peat

McGregor head coach James Clarke doesn't want to hear the Panthers labelled pre-season favourites.

As far as he's concerned, the Ursuline Lancers are still the team to beat in the Kent senior football league.

The Lancers have won two straight titles and three in four years.

"They're always going to have that bull's-eye on their back when they're the defending champion for a few years," Clarke said.

The Lancers are eager to try for another championship.

"The kids are really up for the challenge," head coach Randy Rybansky said. "They know it's going to be tough. I think it's going to be a close league."

If any team is going to topple the Lancers, opposing coaches predict the Panthers have the best shot. They return five all-stars from last year's Kent runners- up.

The Wallaceburg Tartans and Chatham-Kent Golden Hawks, meanwhile, are loaded with players from the past two Kent junior champions.

The always-tough Blenheim Bobcats were Kent senior finalists in 2006 and '07.

"It could be a five-horse race for the first time in awhile," Blenheim head coach Brian Pugh said.

"I don't see any weak links," agreed Wallaceburg head coach Rob MacLachlan.

The season begins today when the Panthers travel to Wallaceburg.

Following is a brief look at each team.

Ursuline Lancers

2008 season: First place with 6-0-0 record; beat McGregor 36-0 in Kent final; lost to Sarnia Northern 25-2 in SWOSSAA 'AAA-AAAA' semifinal.

Outlook: The Lancers lost several players from last year's team, including seven all-stars. The roster is also down to 40 players, the smallest it's been in several years.

None of that worries head coach Randy Rybansky.

"We lost a lot of key people, no doubt about it," he said. "It's going to take some time to get back to where (we were). But every year's a new year. That's the challenge."

Bryce Cumming, an all-star slotback last year, is the new quarterback. He replaces Max Allin, a two-time Kent off ensive MVP.

"He's a great athlete and a quick study, so we're hoping it pans out," Rybansky said. "... He's looking forward to the challenge, though, and that's what I love about him. He loves to compete."

Wide receiver Josh Woodman, running back Joey Romano and fullback Zach Mahoney are other key off ensive players.

Middle linebacker Brad Bettencourt and all-star lineman Eric Hoff man lead the defence.

The Lancers' secondary and kicking game are also strong, Rybansky said.

"We're fairly balanced and that's the main thing," he said.

McGregor Panthers

2008 season: Second place with 4-1-1 record; lost to Ursuline 36-0 in Kent final; lost to Sarnia St. Clair 40-6 in SWOSSAA 'A-AA' semifinal.

Outlook: Head coach James Clarke admits the Panthers were pleasantly surprised to be Kent finalists last season.

It was supposed to be a rebuilding year, but they reached the championship for the first time since winning the 2004 title.

"This year our goal is to get back to the final and see what happens," Clarke said.

They have the experience to contend again, especially on defence.

"We were fairly young last year, so we're returning quite a few players," Clarke said. "We've got a good mix of veterans and rookies coming up from the junior team."

The defence is led by linebackers Larry Vandenberghe and Brandon Pratt and linemen Eric Buxton and Len Verrall. Pratt and Verrall were all-stars last season.

"We think our defence is going to be our strength this year," Clarke said.

All-star quarterback Jeremiah Hamilton, a second-year starter, guides an offence that features running back Chris Verrall, wide receivers Cody St. Pierre and Curtis LaBute and off ensive lineman Brian Armstrong. LaBute and Armstrong were also all-stars.

The Panthers practised weekly in the summer. Clarke hoped to play a pre-season game, but the early start to the school year made that impossible.

"Physically we're ready," he said. "It's just a matter of not playing that one scrimmage to see where you stand."

Wallaceburg Tartans

2008 season: Third place with 2-3-1 record; lost to McGregor 16-0 in Kent semifinal.

Outlook: The Tartans start the season with two games in six days, so they want to avoid a slow start.

Wallaceburg has played in two straight junior finals and won the 2008 championship, but head coach Rob MacLachlan said that doesn't always translate into success as seniors.

"I like our athletes," he said. "I like our kids, but it's a diff erent game -- three downs (in senior) instead of four ((in junior)."

However, playing in the junior finals has taught them how to handle pressure.

"I like that we've been in very competitive situations in the last two years," MacLachlan said.

The Tartans are strong at the skill positions and athletic on both sides of the ball, but both lines lack depth.

The special teams, led by kicker-punter Jake Zelina, should be a strength.

The offence is led by running back Brandon Donkers, who was fifth in rushing yards in the Ontario Varsity Football League this summer. He also set a league single-game record with 45 carries and was the Sarnia Lions' off ensive MVP.

"He's definitely the leader of our team," MacLachlan said.

Fullback Ryan Moninger also returns, while quarterback Brandon Vilaranda and two-way stars Ben Pataki and Lee Purnell come from the junior team.

The defence features linebackers Tyler Ryan and Taylor Ewing, defensive lineman Jordan Dobratz and utility player Dylan Yazbeck.

Blenheim Bobcats

2008 season: Fourth place with 2-4-0 record; lost to Ursuline 42- 7 in Kent semifinal.

Outlook: The Bobcats have fewer than 30 players, the lowest turnout since head coach Brian Pugh arrived 17 years ago.

"But we've got some players and they're coming to practice and they're working hard, so the attitude is excellent," he said.

However, the small roster means the Bobcats can't afford injuries.

"If we can stay healthy, we can be competitive," Pugh said.

All-star quarterback Ryan Vanderzwan, a third-year senior, has looked great in practice. He'll throw to wide receivers John McKillop and Nick Toll and slotback Bowdie Gardiner.

Tackle Darryl Brackett leads a young off ensive line, while running back Andrew Furlan moves up from the juniors.

Safety Zack Shuian, last year's Kent defensive MVP, leads a defence that's aggressive and fast, but not very big. Matt Price, Josh Shuian, Dylan Bonner and Tyler Clarke form an experienced linebacking corps and Robert Neudorf anchors the defensive line.

The Bobcats play two of their first three games against the Lancers.

"We'll know quickly where we're at," Pugh said.

CKSS Golden Hawks

2008 season: Fifth place with 0-6-0 record; missed playoffs.

Outlook: The Golden Hawks are trying to bounce back from two straight last-place seasons.

"We're looking for our guys to develop respect from the league and we have to earn that respect, and that's what we intend on doing," head coach Jeff Green said.

The roster is almost an even split of returnees and last year's juniors.

The juniors won the Kent championship last spring, bringing hope for a senior turnaround.

Thanks to team-building exercises in the off-season, Green already sees the leadership and commitment from players that were lacking last year.

"We're going to be young, but I'm happy with the athletes we have and we have some pretty decent speed," he said.

Quarterback Dan Vandecaveye, fullback Chris Moore and wide receiver Graham Smyth come from the junior team. The veterans include wide receivers Jay Dick and Tim Doermer and tailback Brock Henderson.

The offensive line is young. The defence is led by linemen Doug Dodman and Adam Veldboom, linebackers Ashwin Roy, Aric Roy and all-star Brenden Thompson and defensive back Dylan Turato.

The Golden Hawks visit LaSalle Sandwich today for an exhibition game.