SACKVILLE – Tantramar Titans head coach Scott O’Neal has a message for every team in the New Brunswick High School Football League, including his own.
“Tantramar is back,” the coach proclaimed before practice yesterday.
Read More: http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/rss/article/1208520
O’Neal wants opponents to realize the Titans are not going to be easy prey like they were last season.
He has also instilled some confidence in his young players as they prepare for the season-opener.
The Titans, who lost all six of their games last year, kick off their season Saturday against the defending champion Moncton High Purple Knights. Game time is noon at the Tantramar field in Sackville.
“Things are looking good because we have been getting a lot of hard work out of the guys at practice,” O’Neal said.
“We have 26 or 27 guys out and they are there every day, getting their work in,” the coach said. “There’s a commitment to the team that we didn’t have last year.
“The players on this team are determined to turn this program around. We’re going to have a good year.”
The Titans were outscored 320-14 last year so O’Neal and his coaching staff have revamped the team’s defensive unit.
“We’ve taken all of our best athletes and put them on the defensive side of the ball,” O’Neal said.
“Some of these guys will play both ways, but when you look back at all of the strong teams we’ve had at Tantramar over the years, the real good players played offence, defence, special teams, whatever it takes.
“By strengthening our defence, we’re going to give our offence time to come together. We’re going to be much better this year and no one is going to take us for granted this year.”
The Titans are still young. Only about five of the players on this year’s team are in Grade 12 so O’Neal expects Tantramar to be strong for a few seasons. Also, Sackville’s bantam program has attracted record turnouts this year so the Titans appear to be well on their way to having a successful rebuilding year.
“So much of my optimism is based on the attitude of the players this year,” the coach said. “The guys want to work hard and they want to bring the team back.
“We’re going to be in the playoffs and we’ll see what happens after that. Once you make the playoffs anything can happen.”
Also this week, the Bernice MacNaughton Highlanders square off against the Riverview High Royals on Friday at 4 p.m. at the RHS field. The Royals opened the season Monday with a 42-14 loss to the Harrison Trimble Trojans.
In the 10-man league, l’OdyssΓ©e Olympiens face the Kennebecasis Valley Crusaders on Friday at 7 p.m. at Rocky Stone Memorial Field and the Mathieu-Martin Matadors visit the defending champion Sussex High Sonics on Saturday at 1 p.m.
by dwayne tingley
Times & transcript staff
Advocating for football prospects one story at a time.
CFC Prospect Game Spotlight: Alberta punter aiming for the moon
