OFC PREVIEW: Jr. Argos look to backs for production

Photo courtesy Gord Brown

Last year start through three games:
Varsity: 0-3
Junior varsity: 3-0

Last year finish:
Varsity: Missed playoffs
Junior varsity: JV Tier two champions

Players to watch:

FB Gord Brown
RB Steve Trivieri
RB Frank Trentadue
LB Ryan Searle

Varsity

When asked about this year’s varsity Jr. Argonauts team, head coach Frank Trentadue kept the rhetoric simple.

“It’s a team built on a lot of persistence, determination, depth of character is high and skill level is average to good,” he said.

The roster is set and Trentadue will have to play some of his roster both ways but he’s not concerned about any potential fatigue.

“That’s minor football, kids football. They have a lot of energy; they can do it,” he said.

One of those two-way players will be running back/linebacker hybrid Frank Trentadue Jr. Trentadue has been a Jr. Argo since he started playing football and, according to his coach and father, has some good power behind him.

Also running the ball will be Steve Trivieri, a speed-back to compliment Trentadue’s power.

Most likely starting at quarterback will be Max Townsend. Trentadue couldn’t say definitively that Townsend would start but likes his intelligence and size.

On defence, the coach expects big seasons from defensive lineman Thomas Sebastiano and linebacker Ryan Searle. The coach says Sebastiano’s size and Searle’s good run-stopping ability are their best respective attributes.

“Ryan’s a big body, big strong body and Sebastiano just has a knack for getting to the ball.”

Trentadue will need his impact players to come through for him to avoid missing the playoffs again this year. While the team lost in the last minute of their last game which would have given them a berth, the coach says last year’s slow start (0-3) ultimately cost them.

“So how can we do better? We need a better start this year,” he said.

The Jr. Argos play the Hamilton Panthers game one and Trentadue, again, says their mentality is what’s important.

“I expect a defensive battle. The Panthers are typically a pretty big team they rely on size and like to pound the ball out and I’m hoping that our persistence and determination and scrappiness can put them at bay.”

Junior Varsity

At the junior varsity level, the reigning tier two champion Jr. Argos’ head coach says the team’s first game may tell them everything about the season.

“If we beat Hamilton, I would expect us to go deep in the playoffs,” head coach Carlo Onorati said. “If we get crushed by Hamilton, I wouldn’t expect us to make the playoffs. If it’s a close game, who knows what can happen?”

Like most teams, Onorati graduated most of his roster to varsity and saw a high turnover. He says the talent coming up from the senior peewee program is good and that his offensive backs, linebackers and safeties will be the JV Jr. Argos most dangerous asset.

“We’re a young team but we have a lot of guys with football experience that have played a lot of years of football especially at a young age,” he said. “And I can’t see too many teams being that far ahead of us at this point of the season.”

Onorati expects a big season from fullback Gord Brown, a bruising presence who can block.

“He is going to be a menace this year,” the coach added.

Also running the ball for the JV squad will be Lennox Adinkroah, a speed back that has impressed Onorati with his initiative.

“He’s just a huge punch and …technically sound, Onorati said. “He’s just a great leader. He’s probably one of the better leaders that I’ve seen in my years as a coach.”

The experience held by some of his other players isn’t shared to the same extent by the team’s three potential quarterbacks, none of which have had experience starting at the position besides at the peewee level.

The quarterbacks, Ben Falconer, Christian Bautista and Jack Healey, will all vie for the role.

To come away week one with a win, Onorati says the message is execute.

“Hamilton is a very dangerous team … I know they run an option offense and basically all we’re worried about is executing, that’s it,” he said. “Which means being disciplined, not taking any stupid penalties …. We’ve got a few plays not anything very intricate and we’ll just establish the run and execute and we’ll probably win.”