2012 Calgary & Area Midget Football Preview (Parkinson Division)

*Parkinson Division*

Bulldogs
Record Last Season: 4-2-0
What Happened Last Year: Won Division 1 City Championship 19-16 over the Colts
Coaches Comments:
John Dewit: “This year we have a small team, but we have a lot of experience returning in our grade elevens. We are just smaller than other teams… it seams like our ‘biggies’ aren’t as big as some other team’s ‘biggies’ but we have a lot of talent returning. Every year is a new year and every team is a new team, there is nothing to defend. It is a clean slate, but that being said I think we have as good of a chance as any. There are probably four teams with a real chance and I think that we are one of them. That being said I think it is pretty tight right now, the Mavericks have got to be the early favourite.”
Players to Watch:
“We will definitely be looking to our Quarterback Liam McCorquodale to lead us. He is a real quality QB, he won a city championship with Bishop Carroll. It’s like he was bred to play the position. He is an old school Quarterback, he is a tough kid with a good arm and intelligence. On defence we will be looking to C.J Billington (Linebacker/Defensive Lineman) to be a leader in terms of toughness. Also on defence we will look to grade ten Defensive Back Andrew Britton vocal leadership in the defensive backfield.”

Cochrane Lions
Record Last Season: 2-3-1
What Happened Last Year: Lost to the Northern Raiders 21-9 in Division 2 Semi Final
Coaches Comments:
Ed Quillian: “We are looking pretty good. We have lots of young players this year with lots of potential. We aspire to take that potential and turn them into great players. In terms of goals, we always want to win. I think that as long as we are competitive and try are best the kids will pick up skills along the way. I just want to say that I think the Lions have been holding their own in the league. I am quite proud of all of the players. They have shown a lot of raw talent, which we hope to be able to harness.”
Players to Watch:
“Bryce Mckinnon is an Offensive Lineman and he will be a big leader for us up front. We will also be looking to our Quarterback Levy Jackson for some good leadership. On defence Cody Snoxell (Defensive Lineman) will be a big leader, as well as my son Mike Quillian (Middle Linebacker).

Colts
Record Last Season: 4-2-0
What Happened Last Year: Lost to the Bulldogs 19-16 in the Division 1 City Final
Coaches Comments:
Biagio Iannace: “We are going to be competitive again. We have got a lot of work to do obviously being that we are a young team. It will be a bit of a rebuilding year, we have got a lot of young guys. They are great players don’t get me wrong, but there is going to be a little bit of inexperience. In the jamboree we played the Mavs, Bulldogs, and Hilltoppers and the only team that I felt outmatched us was the Hilltoppers. I think they will be the team to beat. But I am pretty positive we will be in the top half again this year. Things look good for the years to come though. We have three young Quarterbacks that are all really good and lots of other good young players to develop. This year will be tough, probably with a lot of close games but I think we will be ok.”
Players to Watch:
“Cole Van Esch one our Linebackers from Bishop O’Byrne will be one of our leaders. Matt Albert and Austin Brady will both be big for us. They will both play both ways on the O and Defensive Line. Our Receiver Austen Hartley from Grandin is going to be big too, that kid is going to be an All-Star I bet.”

Falcons
Record Last Season: 0-6-0
What Happened Last Year: Did not make playoffs
Coaches Comments:
Andrey Gannon: “We are going to be a lot better than last year, a lot bigger than last year, and overall more skilled than last year. This year there is also a greater commitment to the game. Last year I took over the team right before the season started. It was tough right out of the gate, I was handed some papers of players who might be interested in playing… It was all kind of ‘fly by the seat’. Now we have been able to put in a plan and begin to execute that plan. I am generally happy with the direction that we are heading. I don’t necessarily expect a Division One Championship, but I wouldn’t expect anything less than to compete for the Division Two Championship.”
Players to Watch:
“We will be looking to our Quarterback Chris Merchant and Middle Linebacker Kurtis Baley to be our leaders. They are both grade elevens and both team captains.”

Stampeders
Record Last Season: 1-4-1
What Happened Last Year: Lost the Division 2 City Final 0-35 against the Northern Raiders
Coaches Comments:
Brad Iverson: “We are looking alright. This is our forth season as a program and it has been a rough first couple seasons. This year is looking good, we did well at the jamboree and we expect to compete this year. Our numbers aren’t there like other teams. Teams like the Bulldogs and Colts have around 60 players coming out to try out, we only had 35 this year, but they are good players. It has been a tough first few seasons trying to build a new team, because of grandfathering we have lost a lot of players to other teams. We’ve been really young for the past few seasons. I mean we finally got our first win last year. But this year I think we are actually going to compete.”
Players to Watch:
“Our Quarterback Dante is going to be a huge leader. He is a good kid and a good leader. I like him because he originally was playing for the Wildcats, but they were set at QB so they wouldn’t let him play the position he wanted. So I told him I would give him a shot, and now he is our starting QB and he will be one of our leaders for sure. Our receiver Adam Zajdel has been one of our leaders and will be again this year, as well as our Middle Linebacker Josh Wappel. Wappel is a great player for sure.”

Wildcats
Record Last Season: 4-2-0
What Happened Last Year: Lost to the Colts 7-6 in Division 1 Quarter Final
Coaches Comments:
Greg Wilson: “The Wildcats are looking solid right now… we are young but we have a lot of skilled grade nine and ten players to support our grade elevens. That being said our goal going in is to compete at a very high level in every game and to make the division one playoffs. Once we are there, the sky is the limit on what we can achieve.”
Players to Watch:
“On offence we will be looking to our QB Ben Kopczynski and our highly skilled grade ten receiving corps to lead. On defence we will look to our ‘back seven’ to lead.”