CENTRAL CONFERENCE

A DIVISION

This may be the most competitive this division has been in some time as there isn't a clear-cut favourite.

Last year, the CCH Crusaders stormed to the title from the B Division after being relegated for the first time. They had something to prove then; this year, the motivation will be to give head coach Mike Circelli his 14th conference championship in his final season. The graduation of quarterback Luke Nangle and the departure of breakaway running back Cory Crawley might make that a little harder. Austin Geddes moves up from junior to start at quarterback, receiver-defensive back Bryce Lawrence is a key returner, Joe Circelli is among several veteran linemen and Keaghan Hepp takes over the starting running back duties.

"We're struggling in the sense that we graduated a lot of kids. We've got a whole slew of new kids at the skill positions," Mike Circelli said, adding a repeat title is far from certain. "There are four or five teams that could win it. I do believe high school football in the city has so much parity; you're just an injury away from not doing what you thought you were going to do."

Last season's finalists, the Aquinas Flames, aren't looking back at what might have been. Under new head coach Christian Heffernan, who's replacing the retired Joe Murray, they're looking forward. Big receiver Brett Weir, slotbacks-running backs David and Matt Uren, running back Mike Turner and linemen Matt Nesbitt and Joe Harris are among the key players for Heffernan, who also remains offensive co-ordinator. Jeff Howlett, a backup who saw significant playing time last year, takes over as the starting quarterback.

"We're very big on both lines, but we're younger and less experienced on defence," Heffernan said, adding the offence will have to carry the squad, at least in the early going.

Lucas Vikings coach Mike Hayes has 11 fifth-year players at his disposal, with many expected to play major roles -- including two-way lineman Jason Kwon, slotback-linebacker Jason Tupper, receiver Dimitris Korakianitis, and running backs Marc Rutledge, Scott Miller and Brent Miller. Grade 12 player Marty Spencer takes over at quarterback.

"Having all those fifth-year guys makes a difference," Hayes said. "But we're going to rely on the defence to shoulder a lot of the load. We'll have to play aggressive football."

The Mother Teresa Spartans are going to be solid at the skill positions with the return of quarterback David Copp, receivers-defensive backs Simon Bahru and Brian Marshall, running back Alex Iezzi and linebacker-tight end-kicker Andros Agathos. But they'll need to hope both lines can strengthen as head coach Kevin Barnes admits they're a little thin there.

"I think our biggest challenge will come against the bigger teams," he said. "We're going to have to come up with something a little special for them.''

The Central Golden Ghosts made the semifinals last year, but the loss of 21 of 24 starters makes divisional survival the main goal. Slotback Jordan Boutilier, linebacker Jake Ward and defensive lineman Paul Grasby are the only returnees.

"Our kids work really hard, but obviously there's a lot of work to do," said head coach John Vouvalidis, adding new starters such as quarterback Adam Bellerose, defensive backs Patrick Mahon and Haden Clark and slotback Luke Smith will need to step up. "It's going to be a steep learning curve for some of these guys."

B DIVISION

Three teams, as usual, make the playoffs and the South Lions look poised to be one of them. They'll be eager to make a quick return to the top flight and head coach Mike Stenning said this team has the best skill he's ever had, citing quarterback Alex Pierzchalski, linebacker Jordan McCoskey, safety-running back Mike Ullerick and receiver Dylan Husty as examples.

"We're even two deep everywhere on the lines and we haven't had that in a long time," he said. "I think being in B Division has its advantages. It's good competition, but it certainly isn't the banging you do every week in A Division. That said, you never take anything for granted. It doesn't matter if you're preparing for A1 or C10, you've still got to prepare."

For the Medway Cowboys, there's the relief in knowing they won't have to deal with the twinning headache of last year, when the school was being renovated. Head coach Greg Henderson has plenty of size and experience on the lines, which will help offensively as it'll be a young backfield -- quarterback Tyler St. Pierre and running backs Tyler Dagg and Andrew Sinclair are all in Grade 11. Last year's quarterback, Jared De Jong, moves to slotback.

The Saunders Sabres, who took the drop with South last year, will also be keen to return to the top tier, while the Beal Raiders, John Paul II Jaguars and Regina Mundi Titans could also have a say in the playoff picture. The Jaguars and Titans came up from C Division.

C DIVISION

After a rebuilding phase that saw them come back from a year off to make the playoffs, the Laurier Rams are sadly having to start over again. The Clarke Road Trojans, Banting Broncos and Strathroy Saints will also be jostling for the two promotion spots, which is all these teams have to shoot for. The Montcalm Cougars and Westminster Wildcats might not be getting much help from junior programs that went a combined 1-9 last season.

Meanwhile, the Holy Cross Centurions will make their debut, playing an exhibition schedule.

SOUTHEAST CONFERENCE

The defending champion East Elgin Eagles will sport a new look offensively. Strong-armed quarterback Jason Schuler is now at Western and his go-to receiver, Curtis Maracle, has also graduated, so returning running backs Ian Barrie, Dustin Rice and Mitch Roloson will get the bulk of the work. Defensive end Josh Van Velzer, offensive lineman Carson Stewart and safety Brett Haines also return, while Trent Lagrandeur steps into the starting quarterback role.

"As one of the other coaches said, we're not rebuilding, we're reloading," said co-coach Darryl Black, adding the Eagles are aiming for their first back-to-back conference titles since 1958-59. "If you don't set goals that you want to attain, it's not worth even trying."

Eric Ursic's St. Joe's Rams rebounded from that 45-10 conference final loss at home to win the OFSAA A/AA Western Bowl, when two Ben Moniz picks in the final 80 seconds preserved a 20-15 win over the St. Clair Colts. The Rams will rely on a strong veteran presence that includes running back Peter Moressa, linemen John Britton and Joel Want and linebacker Juan Rojas.

"We'll be pretty strong," Ursic said. "We're certainly looking at getting back to the (league) final."

The Parkside Stampeders went 1-5 last season, but head coach Ted Pinnegar is looking for better things, especially with quarterback Brett Carr returning.

"The biggest improvement is going to have to come from the Grade 11s who have moved up," Pinnegar said. "They'll be the ones we'll really be counting on."

The St. Mary's Warriors are also looking to better a 1-5 mark from last year, while the Tillsonburg Gemini, College Ave. Knights and Huron Park Huskies round out a seven-team division, the conference's largest senior group in some time.

PRESEASON POWER RANKING

Aquinas
CCH
Mother Teresa
Lucas
Oakridge
St. Joe's
South
Central
East Elgin
Saunders

Teams to watch: Medway, Beal, John Paul II, Regina Mundi, Banting, Clarke Road

 

College Avenue Knights

Last year: 1-5

Welcome back: Lucas Vandecamp, Matt Boland, Billy Rozell, Ryan Rieder

Goodbye: Keenan Kersey

Coach's corner: "The Elgin teams are going to be the strongest," head coach Geoff Yates said. "They have a lot more bodies than us. Our goal is to beat the Oxford teams, even though there are three of us. To do that we still gotta play good football. We have 30 guys. My goal is to win more than one game and to get better than last year. This is easily the strongest team I've had in four years. (It's) a very strong team just not overly huge."

Huron Park Huskies

Last year: 6-0

Welcome back: Alex Pace, Jon Buzzell, Jim Salatas, Justin Gerber

Goodbye: Brent Griffith, Steven Slager, Devin Miller, Greg Chesney, Mike Balch

Coach's corner: Huron Park is coming off its second Varsity Cup in three years, after defeating West Elgin in the final last season.

"We've got a bunch of younger players, first-year seniors, and a handful of players who haven't played football before," head coach George Friesen said. "We have a strong core from the junior team last year up with us. We're looking for a solid year, the fourth playoff spot at least and go from there."

St. Mary's Warriors

Last year: 1-5

Welcome back: Andrew Garnham, Dominic Claros, Joe Horvath

Goodbye: Dumitru Ionita, Jesse Way

Coach's corner: "We're hoping to at least go 3-3 and hopefully 4-2 and make the playoffs," said head coach Ed Palasz, who is hoping to improve on last year's record. "(To) get our first win at the senior level in the playoffs would be great for us this year."

JUNIOR FOOTBALL

College Avenue Knights

Last year: 2-3

Welcome back: Ethan Ready, Scott Rieder, Matt Hovorka, Paul Schramm

Goodbye: Colin Newton, Brody Wiseman, Josh Hunter, Michael Carson, Victor Twynstra, Zack McGuire, Blake Vandecamp

Coach's corner: "They're low in numbers too and low in size," senior Knights coach Geoff Yates said. "(Head coach) DJ (Sirois) just wants to be competitive throughout the whole year ... get a couple of wins this year."

Huron Park Huskies

Last year: 0-5

Welcome back: NA

Goodbye: NA

Coach's corner: The Huskies will try to rebound from an 0-5 season that left them in last place in the TVRAA southeast junior B division. Huron Park was ousted in a 48-20 quarter-final loss to St. Josephs. The Huskies struggled to score, mustering only 23 points in five games. Three times the Huskies were blanked.

St. Mary's Warriors

Last year: 1-4

Welcome back: Jesse Damm, Jacob Montigny, Eric Wiggers, Nick Holmes

Goodbye: Kevin Way, Kyle Robertson, Ryan Molenda, Colin Tryon, Jacob Salvador

Coach's corner: "We expect to be competitive," head coach Steve Garnham said. "I don't know what everybody else has but we have a solid core. I would expect we should be competitive and we'll try to make the playoffs."

VARSITY FOOTBALL

Ingersoll Blue Bombers

Last year: 2-4

Welcome back: Devon Young, Adam Fontaine, Tyler Thornton, Spencer Perron, Barry Vlassman, Steve Gauthier, Jake Warner, Cody Jones, Kevin Burke

Goodbye: Greg Holt

Coach's corner: To make the varsity final "We've definitely got to get our offence going. Our offensive line is probably weakest point. When they get rolling we should be able to achieve that and make the varsity final. We gotta play up to our potential. It is huge. We just have to play up to it."