OFC GAME PREVIEW: “It will come down to who really wants the ‘W'”

The Peterborough Wolverines are riding a high heading in to Week 3

After winning their first two games by a combined score of 60-9, the Peterborough Wolverines are preparing for their toughest test yet against the also-2-0 Sudbury Gladiators.

“This week will be a good test for us. Sudbury are looking like a very strong team this season. I have to tip my hat to the Sudbury coaches; it really looks like they have put in the extra work to get this group to a top level program this season,” complimented Wolverines head coach John Parkes. “Both teams have momentum coming off Week 2 victories. At the end of the day it will come down to who really wants the W and who is willing to leave it on the field this week.”

Parkes feels that the Gladiators are a much improved squad this season, and has told his team to be ready for a nose-to-the-grindstone battle.

“They look to be a very well rounded team this season. They have a very fast D, that seems to have a ton solid tacklers,” Parkes said. “A huge change form 2015 is the offence. They have a more balanced offence this season and a solid QB to control the passing game. This is something they have not had in the past. This is a very good football team and I have told my players they can expect a hard nose game form Sudbury.”

Despite winning their first two games and getting ready to face the best version of the Gladiators in years, the Wolverines are treating this game just as any other game on the schedule.

“We are entering this game the same way we enter every game,” asserted Parkes, “We play to win.”

The Gladiators defence has been excellent through the first two weeks, as has Peterborough’s, and their offence has fed off their strong play.

“Defensive stands can define the outcome of a game. It is the easiest was for a team to make a statement with out saying a single word and Sudbury have that kind of defence,” said Parkes. “Not to say that we don’t, but I have seen the film and the momentum Sudbury’s ‘D’ has create for it’s offence needs to be respected.”

It has taken the Wolverines offence a little while to get rolling early in games so far this season, but Parkes says that this is just part of the game.

“Football is a team effort and not a game to be rushed. Sometimes it takes an offence a little bit longer to get things going, but that is when the other two elements (defence and special teams) need to step in and take control,” he said. “This is Canadian football; special teams can change the game quick.”

It has been a busy week of practice for the Wolverines ahead of week 3, with a specific emphasis on Sudbury’s new-found passing game.

“We have spent a lot of time getting ready for Sudbury’s air attack, which is something they traditionally have never really had,” said Parkes. “But is now a major part of what they do. They seem to like to attack teams in the air a little more this season than normal, so we will be focusing on their air game.”

The game begins at 5:00 pm on Saturday afternoon from Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School in Peterborough.