Ontario (Halton): High school game of week features old foes

The only two games Corpus Christi lost last season were to Nelson, so expect the Longhorns to be hungry and ready to play.  Coach Dino Borchetta has a knack for having his teams ready to play in big games and the season opener against the defending Golden Horseshoe Bowl Champions certainly qualifies as a big game.  The team will have trouble filling the shoes of star wide receiver Brett Blaszko who is gone to the Calgary Dinos of the CIS.  They also graduated Luke McQuilkin to Queens, Austin Reusch and Michael Malanda to Sir Wilfrid Laurier, and Colin Dunn to Waterloo.  Despite the losses, the Longhorns remain a veteran team with championship game experience. They return a solid corps led by running backs Aaron Veltri and Leigh Szela and a mauling offensive line anchored by Mathew Macera and Greg Coffin.  Be prepared for a healthy dose of the run game as the Longhorns attempt to assert their physicality and establish the game tempo early on.  Defensively the ‘Horns strength is in their secondary.  Will Kosiancic returns to a talented and athletic group joined by Lucas Merlin, Justin Veltri, and Szela.  With so many returning players Corpus Christi is poised to unseat Halton’s defending champs.

The Nelson cupboard is not so plentiful.  Coach Bob Stacey has one of the toughest tasks of his 30 year coaching career.  The shoes to fill are not only large but are many.  It’s one thing to lose the top quarterback prospect in Canada in Will Finch, and one of the top receiving prospects in Doug Corby, but Stacey is tasked with replacing no less than 8 starters not named Finch or Corby.  The laundry list of Lords departing is comprised of key contributors and leaders on both sides of the ball.  Defensive captain and linebacker Eric Juhl has gone to Laurier along with defensive back Tanner Philp.  Defensive line stalwart Joel Chapman moved on to the Burlington Braves of the CJFL as did defensive back David Shuta.  On offence, receivers Ben Megarry and Josh Vandeweerd are at McMaster and Brad Taylor followed his quarterback Will Finch to Western.  Bruising running back Blake Culver is attending University of Toronto.  Even after losing all those players there is reason for hope as Eli Pawliw gets an opportunity to replace Will Finch at quarterback.  Like Finch, Pawliw is an exceptional athlete.  He won a gold medal in the shot put at the Canadian National Youth (U18) Track and Field Championships in Prince Edward Island last month and finished fourth in the discuss.  That athleticism translates well to the football field as he punted and played some receiver and defensive back last season, but it’s under centre where he’ll have to make quick and smart decisions for these Lords to be successful.  Defensively, linenacker Addison Olah headlines a group who, like the Longhorns, are also deep in the secondary.  Chris Sora, Josh Ross and Jesse Camp return for a 5^th year joined by Aaron Vandeweerd in a deep and talented group.  This defence will be challenged this season if they’re not able to replace last year’s offensive production.

Even with Pawliw stepping in at quarterback, the loss of so many key players combined with Corpus Christi’s seasoned roster and motivation to avenge their last two losses leaves Nelson vulnerable to a season opening home loss, something they haven’t done in quite some time.