OVFL PREVIEW: Ten-year-old Sabercats face maturity test early

Last year start through three weeks:
Varsity: 3-0
Junior Varsity: N/A

Last year finish:
Varsity: Lost in conference semi-finals to Hamilton

Players to watch:

RB Trevor Plumley
S Iain Hutchinson
LB Rhys Mahler
LB Pat McGrath

Varsity

This is the tenth anniversary season for the Sault Ste. Marie Sabercats and no better gift for last year’s Adam Conference top seed would be to contend.

“We focused our whole offseason on the playoffs and I know going seven and one again will be a tough task… but I think we’re focusing more on developing as the season goes and if we lose a couple along the way we can handle that as long as we’re developing,” said varsity head coach Steve Nott.

A quick start won’t be easy. The Sabercats start the season: away versus Brampton, a week-two bye, away versus Brantford and away versus Niagara. They don’t play their first home game until June 25.

But Nott says, even though the matchups are tough, being on the road isn’t so bad.

“We actually like going on the road trips. Most teams don’t like the long trip but our kids really like it and it’s a chance for team bonding and that type of stuff to happen,” he said.

He adds that the roster of 60-plus has a lot of familiar faces and depth thanks, in part, to not fielding a JV team.

“We have a lot of starters back from last year so hopefully we can keep our systems the same,” he said. “So I think that’ll help us really get a quick jump.”

One of those returning starters is last season’s second leading rusher Trevor Plumley. Plumley was a force in the endzone last season, scoring 16 touchdowns rushing and receiving and adding 5 two-point conversions. He had 893 total yards.

“(Plumley) probably would have won (the rushing title) if we hadn’t had Cambridge forfeit their final game of the season. He was leading going into the last final game,” Nott said. “He’s gotten a lot bigger this year so I think you’re going to see a very big powerful back.”

Also returning are linebackers Rhys Mahler and Pat McGrath and league-leading ball-hawk safety Iain Hutchinson. Mahler had 10 solo tackles and a sack last season. McGrath chimed in for 12 tackles and a pick.

Hutchinson led the OVFL with 8 interceptions last season but couldn’t get one in for a touchdown. He made 20 solo tackles and batted down 7 passes.

“He’s a guy that wherever the ball is he’s going to be and he’s a 19 year old who we’re hoping has a big season this year,” Nott said.

At quarterback, the top two prospects are last season’s Sabercat backup Brandon Corelli and newcomer Casey Wright. Corelli only completed one of two passes last season but it was a five-yard touchdown. Wright played for the Northern Bowl-champion Superior Heights who run a similar system to that of the Sabercats.

Both are traditional pocket passers and Nott plans to pass more than last season and open things up for the run game. As of the interview, Nott had not decided who would be his starter if he assigns one at all.

“They’re both pretty even right now so we probably won’t know until game one and we are actually fully prepared to rotate them this season if it comes down to that.”