OVFL PREVIEW: Oshawa anticipates underdog brand

Photo courtesy Mike MacGregor

Last year start through three games:
Varsity: 0-3
Junior Varsity: 0-3

Last year finish:
Varsity: Missed playoffs
Junior Varsity: Missed playoffs

Players to watch

LB Clinton Sharpe
QB Drew Poddle
DB Kanaar Bell
RB Ryan Dixon

Varsity

When the Oshawa Hawkeyes picked up varsity head coach Sean Thomas after last season, it was to rebuild the team and he says he recruited accordingly.

“The plan was that I would have to build (the team) from the ground up and figure out what was wrong and if there were any (issues),” he said. “I actually went to pretty much every game for every high school team (in the area) at least once for scouting purposes.”

Even during organized team activities, Thomas wanted to look at the team with an open mind, opting to overlook player’s prior Hawkeyes experience.

“I told the coaches: we’re looking at these kids with new eyes. I didn’t want them to tell us where they’ve played because then we’ll start to say, ‘oh yea, you can play this, you can play that.”

According to the coach, the final roster is young and relatively inexperienced at the OVFL level. He likes the final roster but says the team having to contend with other Durham area teams is a drawback.

“We’re really just rebuilding. I don’t have a rebuilding mentality as a coach but if I’m going to be honest, we’re rebuilding,” he said. “For us, it’s really going to be a team approach.”

But that’s not to say the Hawkeyes don’t have talent. On defense, Thomas likes linebackers Clinton Sharpe and Eric DeHass to hold things down.

“Clinton Sharpe doesn’t seem to give a damn about his body…Eric DeHass, he likes to hit,” Thomas said.

Sharpe has been with the Hawkeyes for nine years while DeHass is new to the program.

Thomas expects Branden Labanowich will start for the Hawkeyes at quarterback with Anthony Flanagan serving as backup. Labanowich came this year from Durham region Clarington Knights.

Running the ball is JV Hawkeyes graduate Ryan Dixon. Dixon had a touchdown on 11 carries last season for 68 yards.

The Hawkeyes start the season on the road versus the Markham Raiders, a game Thomas candidly says could see the Hawkeyes as a legitimate underdog.

“I don’t know what to expect but what I do know at least from past is that they’ve not been a top-flight team so that’s still one upside,” he said. “I guess we’re sort of evenly matched. I’d even say that they’re probably better than us.”

Junior Varsity

At the JV level, the Hawkeyes also have a new head coach in Rory O’Connor. O’Connor has been a part of coaching staff for the Hawkeyes for years and after last year’s poor finish says the team will be facing some doubters.

“We’re going in every game as the underdog I mean based on last season and the last couple of seasons the Hawkeyes haven’t really done much to gain any respect in the league,” he said. “My job is to turn that around.”

The brand might be unjustified. O’Connor says the team started recruiting in October and had over 70 potential players at camp. After whittling the roster to 50, the coach says the team is both faster and deeper.

“To be honest with you we have a lot of guys. We’re deep at every position. It’s a matter of who’s going to step up come game day,” he said. “(This year’s Hawkeyes are) all able to play and ready to take whatever spot’s given to them.”

Returning quarterback Drew Poddle will most likely be starting. Poddle threw for 787 yards last season with 4 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. O’Connor says a lot will be on the quarterback’s shoulders this year’s supporting cast is better than it was last year.

O’Connor plans to build the defense around another returner, defensive back Kanaar Bell. Bell had 19 solo tackles, 16 tackle assists and 1 sack assist last season with the JV Hawkeyes.

“He’s going to lead the defense and increase the intensity,” O’Connor said. “He’s just an all-around athlete. He sees the whole field makes decisions and just hits hard… he’s going to punish some guys that are going to think twice about coming back into his area.”