With the loss of some significant starters to graduation, the King City Lions High School Senior Football squadΒ Β will need to rely on their remaining stars to step up if the hope to win the YRAA title for the 3rd consecutive year and advance to the OFSAA Metro Bowl Playoffs.
Returning for the Lions on offense isΒ Β 5th year starting quarterback, Josh Baird, who has led the Lions to 2 Junior and 2 Senior titles in his tenure.Β Β The backfield will be led by Marcus Arkarakas (Team Ontario East/Varsity Markham Raiders OVFL). The receiving corps includes returnees Luca Celebre(Newmarket Bucs OVFL ) and Connor McCallum(Newmarket Bucs). The Offensive line will be anchored by 5th year behemoths Anthony DiNardo and GTA star Shawn Hanlon.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Lions hope to be as stingy as they have been for the past couple of years and will be helped by the return to the lineup of DB Fabian Nardone, (Team Ontario West U17, Brampton Bulldogs OVFL, 3 time FBU Top Gun, Rising Stars) who missed last season with a knee injury. Also returning to the secondary are Austin Spilotro (Team Ontario East/Markham Raiders OVFL/Rising Stars), and Stephano Alonzi. Returning to the linebacking unit are Kyle Russo (Markham Raiders OVFL, who missed most of last season with a shoulder injury, and Tom Fortin, a mainstay over the past two seasons at the Will Linebacker spot. Helping the linebackers this year will be former Defensive End Matt McGuire (Rising Stars), who will patrol the Mike Linebacker spot.Β Β The kicking game should be solid once again for the squad with Julian Gutierrez (Rising Stars) handling those duties as well as the Free Safety spot.
Sprinkle in some new additions from the Junior Lions such as Lineman Joe Vitaro (Newmarket Bucs OVFLΒ Β JV MVP), Running Back Anthony Marini (Newmarket Bucs OVFL), Linebackers Austin Heffernan and Mike English(All Pro Camp JV Linebacker MVP), and this yearβsΒ Β Lions will, in all likelihood, be as competitive as they have been the past few years. The big question mark for the Lions on their quest for a third consecutive YRAA Championship and OFSAA Metro Bowl Playoff appearance will be whether or not they can revamp their Defensive Line after being decimated by graduation.
The Lions will get that answer soon enough as they face the Villanova Wildcats in a controlled scrimmage this Friday at Villanova in preparation for their season opener the following week. The Lions open the season as the 22ndranked High School Senior team in all of Canada according to CFCβs National Rankings. (canadafootballchat.com)
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