‘Canes travel to Vermont to play NCFA game

Charlottetown – The recently-crowned Atlantic Football League champions Holland College Hurricanes will travel to Burlington, Vermont, this weekend for their final contest of the 2013 season. The game against the University of Vermont Catamounts is sanctioned by the U.S. college-based National Club Football Association (NCFA). The NCFA includes collegiate club teams from across the United States organized into five conferences, plus independents. In its inaugural year in the NCFA, the Hurricanes compete as an NCFA independent, while Vermont is in the North Atlantic conference.

The Catamounts have been one of the top-ranked club programs in the nation for the past several seasons. They are currently ranked eighth, while the Hurricanes have moved up to number 15 in the weekly polls following last weekend’s victory over the UNB-Saint John Seawolves.

The game will be played according to American rules, meaning 11 players per side instead of 12, four downs instead of three, a smaller field, and more restrictions around putting offensive players in motion before the ball is snapped. ‘Canes offensive coordinator Andrew Hickey says the team is preparing for the challenge.

“We have put in some new plays and the guys are working on the necessary adjustments. But when it comes right down to it, it’s football. And actually it will be kind of nice to have that fourth down, too,” he said.

Keith Mora, NCFA Director of Football Development, says that a lot of eyes will be on this weekend’s matchup.

“The game between Holland College and The University of Vermont is a date that I have had circled on my calendar since the beginning of the season. With this being the first time Holland has played an American team, it will be very exciting to see how they respond to the differences in the rules. I believe this game will be a very good indicator as to how Holland College will fair in the future with the NCFA and competing against more American teams,” he said.

Hurricanes veteran lineman Owen MacWilliams commented that he and his teammates are looking forward to the Vermont road trip.

“At the start of the season, we set two big goals, an AFL championship and a win in the states. We’re going to give it everything we’ve got.”

The Hurricanes will leave for Vermont on Saturday morning, making a stop in Waterville, Maine, for a practice at Harold Alfond Stadium on the campus of Colby College. The game against the Catamounts will be played on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. at the South Burlington High School stadium.

 

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