Hope springs eternal for Springbank Community High School Phoenix. In order to rise from the ashes of last season's Tier 2 playoff loss to Airdrie's George McDougall Mustangs, Phoenix will have to do it with a young team.
Hope springs eternal for Springbank Community High School Phoenix.
In order to rise from the ashes of last season's Tier 2 playoff loss to Airdrie's George McDougall Mustangs, Phoenix will have to do it with a young team.
No fewer than 10 players graduated from the program in the spring. There are a lot of fresh faces at the team's Aug. 20 training-camp session on the school football field.
“We get the feeling they're a pretty dedicated group, ” said Phoenix head coach Tony Lucas. “A lot of them have gone to camps and done a lot of training in the offseason. ”
Several, including quarterback Grady Munro, linebacker Dan Teitz, and linemen Callum McCulloch-Graham and Case Braun, played spring ball with Cochrane Midget Lions, coached by Phoenix line coach/offensive coordinator Jud Graham.
“We feel like we definitely have a chance to do something this year, ” Lucas enthused as 20 Phoenix practised behind him under Graham's watchful eye.
As in training camps past, Springbank's entire roster isn't at the early workouts with the back end of summer vacation on the go. But Lucas expects a greater number of players this season compared to last.
“A larger squad, ” he said. “It'll help us stay with a team like George Mac instead of playing so many guys both ways. ”
While last season didn't go as far as he would have liked, Springbank's season-ending 14-7 playoff loss to eventual Rocky View Sports Association champion George Mac Mustangs was encouraging for coach Lucas.
“I was really satisfied with the last game even though we lost. ”
With 10 senior classmen lost to graduation, Phoenix are relying on a bevy of rookies and second-year players to carry the freight.
“A big part of if has to do with our junior team, ” Lucas explained. “The Grades 7-8-9 kids come up here and they already know a lot. We just have to tweak instead of completely teach them. ”
Pivotal in that group is Grade 10 starting quarterback Grady Munro, who started four Midget Lions games this past spring when starting QB Des Catellier couldn't go due to an ankle injury.
“Grady's really worked hard. He's only going into Grade 10. But he's improved even since the Midget season, ” Lucas related. “He's a very, very dedicated young man. He's the kind of kid that makes it worthwhile coming out here. If you can't get excited coaching a guy like that for the next three years, there's no point. ”
Springbank opens the RVSA regular season Sept. 21 at Bow Valley Bobcats.
Luke Jackson, WR
Devin Smith, RB
Makani Clapson, SB/RB/DB
Hunter Chrisp, OL
Jesse Schonacher WR, QB
Egan Hamill, QB
Liam Manns, QB
Cole Pollard, WR
Jack McGorman, DB
Chris Buchanan
(WR-wide receiver; RB-running back; SB-slotback; DB-defensive back; OL-offensive line; QB-quarterback; C-centre; DE-defensive line; TE-tight end; LB-linebacker; NT-nose tackle; DL-defensive line.)
Daegan Manns, C/DE
Case Braun, DL/OL/TE/LB
Callum-McCulloch Graham, OL/NT/TE
Ian Lavery, OL/DL
Dan Teitz, LB/RB/TE
Cormac Scholz, WR
Eric Ferguson, DB
Trey Adams, WR/DB
Eamon Hughes, DB
Gord Taylor, WR
Kale Starnino, WR/DB
Grady Munro, QB
David Taylor, RB/TE
James Sadowski, WR
