The motto of this year’s Varsity Essex Ravens football team is, New Year, New Team, Same Expectations! The team returns 18 players (13 starters) from last year’s OVFL Championship team along with 15 JV graduates and 28 new recruits. Here is a position by position preview:
Offensive Line
The strength of the team will definitely be in the Offensive Line which returns 4 starters (6’6” 310lbs LT Dan Benson, 6’2” 320lbs LG Jeremy Veres, 6’3” 270lbs C Alex Bulcke, 6’1” 245lbs RG Chris Slikboer) making the move to RT will be starting DT/DE 6”5” 280lbs Evan Pavka. To go along with those 5 there are 5 or 6 young lineman waiting in the wings to get their shot and will push hard to unseat one or more of the incumbents.
Running Back
2010 league rushing leader Tarrance Crawford takes his considerable talent to SFU this fall and will not be able to participate this summer so the Ravens running attack will have a new look to it. Battling it out at RB will be 6’2” 215lbs Nick Vincent, 6’0” 210 Cody McCann, 6’2” 185 lbs Brandon Mcgivern, 5’10” 180 Logan Avelar and 5’10” 235lbs FB Brandon Baillargeron. Vincent is a home runner hitter with great power, McCann is the total package who can run, catch and block, McGivern and Avelar are slashers who can also catch the ball out of the backfield and Baillargeron is a bruiser.
Quarterback
Last year’s QB and in our opinion league MVP Austin Kennedy has graduated and has become the starting QB at the University of Windsor but his loss will be dampened by him coming back to become the JV Offensive Coordinator and Varsity QB coach. That leaves a real battle between last year’s back up Josh Deehan and JV graduate Mike Mallender. Deehan has been a great leader since December as he took control of the off season conditioning program and has held everyone accountable thus far, but Mallender is not conceding the starting spot without a fight. David McDuffie and Kyle Marcovecchio round out the QBs in camp.
Receivers
The receiving core returns 2 starters in Josh Strong-Gates and Kyle Miller joining them are JV graduates Dallas Boow and Joel Squire along with recruits Mark Carter, Rob Bonifero, Jelani Ashahki-Mahuli, Taylor Tiesson and David McDuffie.
Defensive Backs
The strength of the team will be in the back end where the Ravens return 5 DBs all of which have starting experience in CB Austin Crumb, HB’s Richard Veenstra and Ryan Bortolussi , FS’s Dave Nadin and Brad Marsden. Bolstering this group will be former QB turned HB Devan Green, WECSSA All Stars and Western Bowl Champions FS Beau Lumley and CB Charles Johnson along with former Etobicoke Eagle Ahmed Elfkey new recruits Luke Lefler, Jordan Deneau, Dalton Gilmore, Onotge Sabageh and JV graduates Kenny Allen and Devon Nelson. This group will be fast, strong and deep.
Linebackers
The only returning LB is Lucas Allen but JV graduates Darren Quennell and Jake Wintemute were key contributors on special teams during the playoff run to the championship last year so they know what it takes to win. New recruits Corey Gaunt, Kayman Holmes, Frank Renaud, Alex Brockman, Mark Pare and converted guard Alex Kowalsky, along with JV graduate Arlie Mclellan will make this an athletic group with all having the talent and ability to start.
Defensive Line
Like the LBers the Ravens only return one down lineman but the good part about that is that it is Jon Langley who was the defensive lineman of the year for the team. New recruits Travis Durocher, Spencer Anger and Colton Pursley along with JV graduates Dalton Laino, Mitch Welacky and Ali Khaudayer will provide a deep rotation.
Special Teams
Punting duties will be handled by Josh Deehan and the kicking duties will be handled by returning K/Rec Matt Paonessa. A great group of returners will be providing a threat to change field position in a hurry; this would include Austin Crumb, Richard Veenstra, Beau Lumley, Charles Johnson and Rob Bonifero.
For the “Ravens” to Win
They need to understand that this is a new year, a new team, but the expectations remain the same…Win the OVFL Championship! They need to work hard each practice striving to get better after each and every rep. Do what we do well and eliminate mistakes. If they can do this they will put ourselves in a position to do what we set out to do when we started our off season conditioning program December 1, 2010.
Players to Watch
Offensively – QB Josh Deehan, RB Nick Vincent, RB Cody McCann, FB Brandon Baillargeron, OL Dan Benson, Jeremy Veres, Alex Bulcke, REC Josh Strong-Gates, Kyle Miller, Mark Carter
Defensively – DBs Austin Crumb, Richard Veenstra, Beau Lumley, Charles Johnson, LBs Lucas Allen, Corey Gaunt, Kayman Holmes, Alex Brockman, DL Jon Langley, Spencer Anger and Travis Durocher.
Pictures: Team Scrimmage courtesy Joe Mlinaric
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