#HSpreviewCFC (ONT): Final countdown for Phoenix

Things won’t quite be the same for the Barrie Central Phoenix of the Georgian Bay Secondary School Association (GBSSA) this fall.

In September of 2014, it was announced that Barrie Central Collegiate Institute, in Barrie, ON, would be closing at the end of the 2015-2016 school year after 173 years afloat.

There was a concern among many athletes, teachers and parents that there may not even be a football program in 2015. It was thought that, at the very most, a varsity squad was a possibility. Not even taking into account the teacher’s strike that could have eliminated all extracurricular activities, there was also the issue of declining enrolment at the school.

With Barrie Central down to approximately 650 students, which directly relates to the decision to close the school, a lack of pupils was a definite roadblock for the football program. Further, two of the catalysts of our program were transferred to other schools for this coming year due to the lack of students. This meant that the school was down two of its premier coaches, and a shortage of coaches also became a major barrier.

However, the passionate students and teachers were not about to let a little adversity hold them back. They wanted to save a program, and their determination paid off.

Thanks to their unrelenting fortitude, it was announced in June that there would be two teams hitting the field at the storied school come September. It is not yet known who will be coaching what level this coming year, but the fact that two teams are even able to play, and likely compete, is in itself a major accomplishment.

After a stellar 2014 season for the seniors that ended in heartbreak and an up-and-down year for the juniors that also concluded with a close loss in the playoffs, both teams look to take that next step while going out with a bang in 2015.

The juniors are led into the season by quarterback Matthew Piggott, wide receiver Curtis King and defensive back Owen Bond.

Last season, they played to a 2-4 record, but could have easily been 4-2. They lost two tough games: one to St. Theresa’s of Midland, ON an one to Nottawasaga Pines of Angus, Ontario. These two losses were by a combined total of eleven points. They also fell in a heartbreaking game to Bradford D.H.S. by a single point in the first round of the GBSSA playoffs after a failed two-point convert attempt.

This will be a rebuilding year for the juniors who will see a number of their top players from 2014 move up to the senior ranks. This means that there will be an influx of new Grade 9’s transitioning from elementary school. Many of these players will be playing organized tackle football for the first time.

It promises to be an interesting season to say the least for the Juniors in 2015, and they could easily surprise some teams in what could be a very weak year for the ‘AAA’ Division of the Simcoe County Athletics Association (SCAA)

The Seniors are coming off a 5-1 regular season in 2014 that culminated in heart-wrenching fashion with a three-point loss to the rival OD/Park Trojans (now known as the Orillia Knighthawks) in the GBSSA semi-finals.

This season, they welcome in a flood of Grade 11’s up from the junior level. Heading into the season, they are still in search of a quarterback to fill the void left by Nick Bain, who departs after starring at the position for five years in the red, white and black.

The natural choice to replace Bain would have been his back-up, who is also a slotback, Aidan Rambaran, but he also is leaving the school to begin post-secondary studies.

With Rambaran leaving after his fourth year and not partaking in a “victory lap”, the door is wide open for four or five players including Elijah Kent, Tyler Mcmillin, Nick Savard and Parker Phillips.

All four have seen time under centre in the past, with all but Phillips playing pivot last season. The team is led defensively by linebacker Curtis Shepperdson and Phillips, who is much better-suited to play on the defensive side of the ball as he did for most of the season in 2014.

As for a dark horse for the seniors this year, rookie running back Nick Bartley could be a force to be reckoned with on the ground. He tore it up in his first season playing football last year in junior, chewing up ground yardage all season long and running for numerous touchdown romps.

With a new system taking effect in 2015, which segregates Catholic and Public schools in the SCAA, both Phoenix teams will be facing stiffer competition this season. That is especially the case for the Seniors, who had four of their five wins in 2014 versus a catholic opponent.

Despite the scheduling changes coming to them, both Barrie Central teams expect to compete in 2015 and close down their school and program in style.

Advocating for football prospects one story at a time.

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