Photo courtesy Corey Williams

Last year start through three weeks:
Varsity: 0-3
Junior Varsity: 1-2

Last year finish:
Varsity: Lost in conference semi-final to Essex
Junior Varsity: Lost in conference semi-final to Cambridge

Players to watch:

DL Anthony Galic
LB Rivver Griffith
DB Adrian Hodgson
OL Daniel Horta

Varsity

Mississauga Warriors varsity head coach Craig Clarke says that for the team to make it back to the playoffs they’ll have to work all season.

“Once we got outdoors…we’re getting the numbers at practice…(We need to) keep the foot on the pedal,” he said.

Clarke says the team is deepest at cornerback with Adrian Hodgson and Tethion Nicholas being the standouts.

Also expected to be a force is returning varsity defensive end Ricardo King –Kalloo, a physically and mentally gifted player who has improved since last season.

As for linebackers, Clarke says Sean Snary, another returning varsity player, is poised to have a good season. Snary had 23 combined solo and assisted tackles and two interceptions last season.

“He’s fast, he’s a good listener and he’s always working hard in practice,” Clarke said.

On offense, the coach says he thinks offensive lineman Daniel Horta will provide good leadership and protect returning quarterback Aaron Clarke and JV-product Marcus Hobbs.

Aaron, a scrambling quarterback, threw for 992 yards last season with 10 touchdowns and had a 153.8 passer rating. Hobbs, more of a pocket passer, had 876 yards, 5 touchdowns and 10 picks with the JV team.

The Warriors will be looking to reflect their status as the OVFL’s most successful team. Mississauga is the first and only team to win four varsity league championships. They’ve been to the varsity finals six times, two more than the next best Toronto Thunder.

Clarke has been with the varsity team for the past 15 seasons and attributes the success to the team’s mentality.

“Over the years, (success came from) having respect for the players and the coaches, having team discipline on and off the field … and having a good coaching staff teaching these kids the rights and wrongs of being successful … so they can carry that onto university,” he said.

Junior Varsity

For the Warriors’ younger program, head coach Chris Hobbs says this year’s group is hard-working but lacks experience, something that isn’t being helped by no exhibition games and mother nature.

“We do not have any scrimmages scheduled so we will not know how competitive we will be until our first game … Also the wet weather has limited our practices to date.”

Despite all that, Hobbs says the team did a good job of combing the Warriors OVFL and OMFL pee wee teams for talent and expects good season from a few players in particular.

“We expect running back Jahvari Bennet to be a OVFL standout. Jahvari runs hard inside and has the speed to take the ball all the way,” he said.

Hobbs also anticipates a breakout season from returning JV player Trey Ivey-Crichlow, a quick tailback/wide receiver combination with great hands. Crichlow-Ivey had 9 receptions last season for 74 yards and added another 19 yards rushing.

Throwing to Crichlow-Ivey and the Warriors’ other wide outs will be John Perovic and Nate Hobbs. Perovic, QB for the Peel Junior champion St. Marcellinus C.S.S and Hobbs, last year’s Warriors peewee starter, are competing hard for the starting spot.

As for defense, look for a big year from returners Anthony Galic on the defensive line and linebacker Rivver Griffith who are both strong and quick despite being considered a little small.

The JV Warriors start the season on the road against the Cumberland Panthers, a team Hobbs expects to go hard.

“Cumberland is a great club and is competitive at all levels. Our game plan is to be aggressive from the first snap and hopefully show that we can compete with the top clubs in the OVFL,” he said.

He adds that the key to that game as well as success throughout the season is three-fold.

“ In order for us to return to the playoffs and make a serious play-off run, we will have to outwork the competition, stay healthy and catch a few breaks.”