The marathon has begun, but don’t be surprised if there isn’t a little Usain Bolt-like sprinting done over the next two weeks.
The New Westminster Hyacks jumped into training camp this week, with two on-field practice sessions and film and team meetings slated every day.
The Triple-A football team’s goal is to get further than last year – where they marched all the way to the provincial semifinal before getting bumped by Vancouver Fighting Irish – and coach Farhan Lalji notes such a plan requires a lot of hard work.
“I don’t want to get ahead of the work we have to do right now, but I think we’re in a good spot where the teams went last year,” said Lalji, referring to both a strong playoff march by the senior squad, and a tremendous championship season by the juniors.
Put them all together and it’s hard not to envision a big game in BC Place come December.
Although there are usually questions when you mix members from two different teams, the fact that a part of last year’s junior 12-0 core were already doing double-duty with the seniors makes a transition all the more smoother.
“Our goal is to have our best year ever,” he added. “There’s no need to set the bar lower because of the number of Grade 11s we have... The (core Grade 12s) two years ago with the JV team were undefeated and got upset in the quarterfinals that year.
“They were a dominating team as 10th graders, so it’s not like these two groups are following different paths. All the kids on this (senior team) are use to winning 80-90 per cent of their games.”
Among the key areas that have opportunity written all over them are quarterback and running backs, where some interesting battles for roles appear to be playing out.
With the graduation of last year’s starting pivot James Shiho, the No. 1 job is vacant – and three challengers are expected to make it a tough choice.
Last year’s backup Matthew Thind, a 5-foot-11 Grade 12, upcoming Lucas Sabau, a Grade 11 at 5-foot-9, and Grade 10 Kinsale Philip, who at just 14 is pushing to jump up a level after handling the top job for the stretch run of the junior Hyacks championship.
A Surrey native, Philip was busy this summer as a member of Team B.C. at the Under-16 Challenge in Regina. He was joined by New West receiver Broxx Comia.
Lalji is excited about the race, and is impressed by each.
“I can’t imagine three different quarterbacks who bring different attributes to the field. They may all be physically similiar – none of them are 6-foot-2 – but they each have different strengths.”
At running back, Grade 12s Trew Dancey and Josh Olango, the latter filling a fullback position, did their share of ball carrying a year ago. Dancey established a club record with five touchdowns in one game.
Then add Sammy Sidhu into the mix – as a Grade 10 he was one of the juniors who played on both teams and was an unstoppable force in the junior final. His totals of four TDs and 264 yards rushing earned him the provincial MVP award.
“I’m anticipating having the biggest backfield since 2009,” said Lalji. “They will have to have a healthy diet of carries, so spreading it around is going to be important.”
Other Grade 10s who gained valuable experience with the senior squad were linemen Yanni Angelopolous and Isaiah James, and 6-foot-3 receiver/defensive back Shane Belsher.
The club has also gained four players who transferred to the school.
While this week they do the work on home turf, next week they shift to Chilliwack, in preparation for their first exhibition game Sept. 2 in Scappoose, Ore. against the American city’s vaunted high school varsity team.
“Both weeks are important,” said the longtime coach. “Scappoose played in their state’s 4-A championship game last year. And while you always take the field aiming to win, what a trip like that is mostly for is a team-building exercise, that’s why we also mix in a stop at the University of Washington to watch a football game and just hang out together.”
New Westminster returns home to host Calgary’s Notre Dame on Sept. 9 at Mercer Stadium.
