Etobicoke Eagles OV Varsity & JV ready for season

Just over a week until the OVFL season starts and the Etobicoke Eagles are preparing for a great campaign.

OVFL VARSITY
Strengths
We return all except for 8 players from the 2009 season. Added a large number of promising new faces, and players moving up from the Jr. Varsity team.
Defense should be a strong point with new Def. Coord. Donavan Carter calling the plays.
Veterans at key positions (QB, LBs, RB, WRs).

In order to be successful we must
SCORE POINTS. The 2009 Eagles struggled to put points up, and lost a number of close games in the 4th quarter. We need to be consistent moving the ball and getting into the endzone.

Returning Players
QB Jesse Herman returns to lead the O, and must be the playmaking leader he is capable of being.
RB Melvin Abankwah – the ‘slipperiest RB in the OV’ should be a focal point of the ‘O’.
WR Aaron Jeremiah – Returns after taking the 2009 season off, had 3 TDs in preseason game vs. Halton, is a big body downfield WR at 6’4″, 225lbs
LB Nick Swaby – Must recover from an injury-plagued 2009 and fulfill his potential for us to succeed.
DTs Ivan Gritsiniak and Aeden Petros – These two wide-bodied D Tackles could sneak under the radar to be among the OV’s best in 2010.

Players to Watch
WR/RB/DB/ATH – Llevi Noel – Making the switch from DB to ‘O’ – an offseason of hard work off the field and a dominant high school season on the ‘O’ makes Llevi a player to watch.
OL – Lawrence Hopper – Technically sound JV moves up and is expected to be a leader on the OL in his first year at Varsity.
LB – Sam Narkaj and Alex Rich – Rookie Varsity LBs are expected to make the jump and see plenty of ‘PT’ at Varsity. Narkaj is a runstopping MLB in the Patrick Willis mold, and Rich is a ‘fly to the ball’ speedy LB from Richview CI whose older brother Addison was a household name as a Warriors DB in the OV a few years back.

JR VARSITY
Strengths
Offensive Playmaking – There is a TON of talent on the Eagles JV this season. Expect the Eagles to be capable of hitting big plays from anywhere on the field, once the ‘O’ begins to click. The D returns a number of ‘veterans’, and should be more than ready to hold this team in games until the ‘O’ gets its feet under them.

In order to be successful we must
Play tough in the trenches. OVFL JV ball is won and lost on the O and D lines. A group with lots of ovfl ‘rookies’ must gel early and get the O and D off to a fast start in a tough division.

Returning Players
DL/LB Alex Gargaro – Athletic LB/DE type saw plenty of time last season, and now must become a leader on the D.
DB Shaun McCausland – Smart DB should grow into a leader in his 2nd JV season. Has shown great stuff in camp thusfar.
DL Jordon Bell – Dominant DT will likely see time on both sides of the ball in 2010.
OL Alex Saliba – 2nd year JV is going to be a leader after an offseason of hard training.

Players to watch – JV
QB Isvor Gnjidic – Rookie QB should get the nod as starter to begin the year. Didnt do much ‘airing it out’ at PW last year but has all the tools.
RB – Kingsley Amankwaa – continues the strong Eagles-Michael Power RB tradition. Big strong and punishing between the tackles runner could be a contender for All Star when the dust settles.
WR/RB – Nathaniel Pinto – Just won an MVP award at ‘Super Elite Football Camp’, this ‘Waterbug’ type of runner got Pinball Clemons’ nod of approval after a breakout performance at the camp.
LB Matt Bonk – After a somewhat slow rookie year at JV in 2009, Bonk should excel as a playmaking LB in 2010.