CFC OFC preview: Hurricanes starting where they left off

After an undefeated championship season for the Hamilton Hurricanes varsity team last year, they now look to go 2-0 to start the 2014 campaign.

Following a dismantling of the Forest City Thunderbirds in week one of the newest OFC season, the Hurricanes have a tough test ahead of them in week two as they play host the Brantford Bisons, who also dominated in week one with a 49-0 victory.

The ‘Canes were led by talented new quarterback & CFC TOP 100 Liam Putt and a stiff defence in their week one victory over Forest City, and are going to need them again in week two if they plan staying undefeated in their time in the OFC.

As good as the team looked in their week one win, they still committed some penalties that resulted in touchdowns being called back and struggled on multiple special teams plays; things that could the Bisons will be looking to take advantage of when they two teams meet on Friday night at St. Thomas More high school.

The game is schedule for an 8:00pm start and can be seen locally in Hamilton on channel cable 14.

It wasn’t just varsity squad that had an excellent week one, the junior varsity team coached by Burt McCallum also took care of business with a 49-0 victory of the Forest City JV team.

Much like the varsity team, the juniors were also led by some excellent play from their man under centre.

“The offence did a great job,” said coach McCallum. “Connor Carusello is out quarterback and I think he did an exceptional job moving the ball in the air.”

The win is a great start to the season for the junior squad, but with a very young roster and many tough matchups to come, the team is going to need to continue to improve if they want to best their result from last season when they lost in the semi-finals of the playoffs, particularly on special teams.

“Last year we were pretty successful only losing to Burlington in the regular season and a tough loss in the semi-finals,” McCallum stated. “We spend a lot of time at practice on special teams on special teams and hopefully it’s one of the areas of the game we can gain field position on.

Week two will also present a big test for the junior varsity team as they also host the Brantford Bisons, a team that won 70-0 in week one. That game will also be played at St. Thomas More high school in Hamilton, but is played on Saturday with kick off scheduled for 5:00pm.