New Head Coach Matt Murfitt will lead the upstart Ottawa Sooners in 2012

The Ottawa Sooners will look to take a step towards a CJFL championship in 2012. The team is equipped with a revamped coaching staff and a slew of promising young talent, and will seek to announce its presence as a true contender during the upcoming campaign.

After a disappointing 2011 campaign in which the Ottawa Sooners failed to procure a postseason berth, the team has begun rebuilding with a revamped coaching staff and a batch of promising recruits.

One key addition to the Sooners is Team World veteran, Jesse Mills, who will take over as the team’s signal-caller in 2012.

“Jesse has proven himself to be a winner at every level he plays,” says new Head Coach, Matt Murfitt. “His confidence and playing skills will open up our passing game and put pressure on defensive secondaries.”

Mills will have the luxury of throwing to fellow rookie, Derek Brown, a Citadel High School product, and two-time All Candian, Eric Letourneau.

“Eric is a very talented receiver that we are hoping can get a nice rhythm going with Jesse,” explains Murfitt.

Mills will be joined in the backfield by first year running back, Dechaun Beals.

“Dechaun is a speedy and explosive runner that will allow us to put pressure on the perimeter of opposing defenses, as well as cause some match-up problems in our passing game,” notes Beals’ new coach.

Both newcomers, Mills and Beals, will rely heavily on protection from returning offensive lineman Andrew Younis, who will once again anchor the team’s front five.

On the other side of the ball, key returnees Zach Hamilton and Wassim Sayegh will continue to lead the Sooners’ efforts to thwart opposing offenses in 2012.

While the amount of talent already set to suit up for the Sooners in 2012 is significant, Coach Murfitt points out that the team is “still involved with our recruiting at this point and [is] close to landing more high calibre players.”

Off the field, first year Head Coach, Matt Murfitt, will lead a group of seven new coaches.

The overturn of personnel “will affect our team philosophy, systems philosophies and overall attitude in what we feel is a positive manner moving forward,” says Murfitt.

“I think one of the main offseason needs that needed to be addressed was the overall team philosophy and putting the right personnel in place to allow the team to be successful on the field, and help the players progress to the next level,” explains Murfitt.

Despite the laundry-list of changes made to personnel on and off the field, the team goal for the 2012 season remains the same as ever: win a National Championship.

And though there is no shortage of excitement surrounding the team representing the nation’s capital, Coach Murfitt knows that his squad cannot walk before it runs.

“There are several other goals that must be met along the way before [a National Title] can be a consideration, but I would expect that we will be much more competitive within our conference this year with a goal of winning the OFC and giving ourselves a real chance at the national level. This would allow us to add to the history and tradition of the Sooners organization.”