CFC OVFL Game of the Week Preview: “Our boys are hungry”

Last year, the Niagara Spears felt the OVFL championship slip away in a 42-20 loss to the Ottawa Myers Riders.

After going 9-1 before meeting the Myers Riders in the league final, the Spears have high hopes for the new campaign and they’re already on the right track.

The varsity Spears is two games into their season and has already notched two convincing victories – defeating the Essex Ravens 17-10 in their season home opener on May 24 and dominating the Mississauga Warriors 45-7 this past week.

Spears bench boss Brian Duguay and the coaching staff know this is only the beginning.

“It’s definitely shaping up to be a very exciting year,” said Spears team manager Jocelyn Duguay. “Our boys are hungry [because] they had a taste of what it was like to have such a successful year last year and they want to win more than anything.”

This season, the Spears are focusing on mending the mistakes from the previous year, leaning on a wealth of talent on their roster. Returning players include wide receiver Brandon Solanki from St. Francis Phoenix, running back Levar Lashington from Blessed Trinity Thunder– who recorded six of Niagara’s touchdowns last season – and free safety Adam Evans, who currently plays for Acadia Axemen.

Duguay also mentioned that Brady Szerepi and Colin Rudel, although returning, have moved up on the depth chart and are stepping into larger contributing roles with the team.

New additions to Spears include Connor Warnock, Mack Jones and Austin Whetton. Whetton has already 60 yards on 10 reception in two games.

Quarterback Blair Robertson finds himself back in the pocket for the Spears and looks to improve on his stats from last year, where he totalled 67 completions in 137 attempts for 1038 yards and ten touchdowns.

“We have a very tight group of athletes who support each other both on and off the field – I’m very proud to be a part of something so great and watch these young men achieve and succeed,” said Duguay.

The Spears administration is also proud of the wealth of talent that has been recruited from the academy, including recently Mario Villamizar to Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks and Chris Perin to McMaster Marauders.

“We have over a dozen still exploring their options and another dozen who are already finished their first year in university,” Duguay added.

Both the junior varsity and varsity squads hope this year will be the taste of championship victory they are looking for and will take on the next challenge when they play the London Mustangs on June 6th.