G-Men Losing the numbers game

The Limestone Grenadiers’ return to the top level of the Ontario Varsity Football League will go down as a learning experience.

Playing in the varsity division for the first time since 2006, the G-Men just didn’t have the depth when push came to shove.

Dressing around 35 players for the second week in a row, the G-Men (2-4-1) officially were eliminated from playoff contention on Saturday following a 22-3 loss against the Metro Toronto Wildcats at Loyalist Collegiate.

“We have a great bunch of kids,” G-Men offensive co-ordinator Tim Pendergast said after the game was called with just under 12 minutes left because of the fierce storm that rolled into the area.

“It’s just tough when you have 33 guys and a running back (Torrin Clinkinboomer of Holy Cross) playing quarterback. We have the weapons and stuff, but when you see linemen hobbling off the field, you can’t pull them because you don’t have a backup.”

Unfortunately, it was a similar story in years past for the G-Men, who were forced to drop out of the league a couple of times because of slim numbers.

However, there were more positive signs with this year’s team, which had a strong coaching staff and good leadership.

Ultimately, the departure of four starters, including quarterback Derek Wendel, to the Ontario under-18 team and a thinning roster proved too much to overcome.

One of the big hurdles next year will be convincing incoming university students to suit up in the summer.

“I think more kids should play,” Pendergast said. “A lot of kids going off to university want to save themselves. But what they need to understand is going from senior (high school) football to first-year university is a huge step.

“This is a nice bridging gap. The kids that did decide to play benefited immensely. The speed of the game increases and decision- making has to improve (to excel at university).”

By MIKE KOREEN, THE WHIG-STANDARD