Gordon Hinse, Terris Paliwoda help tailback Tristan Jones set records
By Scott Petersen,
Edmonton Journal
EDMONTON – Although positionally they’re hogs, Terris Paliwoda and Gordon Hinse are prime beef in the eyes of football coaches.
They’re the big, athletic guards anchoring either side of an Edmonton Wildcats offensive line that opens up gaps like they’re opening doors. While tailback Tristan Jones torques his body around the remaining defenders to post record-setting performances, it’s big men like Paliwoda and Hinse making it possible outside of the limelight.
“You take that group as a whole and I know there isn’t a better one in the league,” said Wildcats head coach Gary Durchik.
His junior football team has charged to a 7-0 record and should put the finishing touches on their first unbeaten season Saturday at 7 p.m. at Clarke Park against the winless Calgary Colts. Jones will add two or more records to his portfolio and the hulking line will get some repetitions to prepare for the post-season.
Paliwoda, six-foot-four and 295 pounds, and Hinse, six-foot-three and 305 pounds, have been mentioned as the best at their position in the entire country. Durchik agrees and is a big proponent of Paliwoda for the Canadian Junior Football League’s top offensive-lineman award.
Each time the player approached Durchik over the years to ask what he needed to do to see more playing time, become a star, and eventually turn pro, he took the tough critique and advice to heart and worked to make it happen.
“He’s so much better, he looks like he’s taking dancing lessons compared to the way he was,” said Durchik. “He’s a self-made man. He’s done everything we’ve asked him to and he’s certainly one of our leaders.”
The former Edmonton Eskimos coach believes the strength Paliwoda’s gained in the weight room would put him among the best in the Canadian Football League for his position. He even tried to get Paliwoda a look at Eskimos camp before the season and shouldn’t have much trouble getting him in on a try-out basis after this breakout season.
Paliwoda, 22, would prefer to skip the university level altogether — although he’s been heavily recruited across the country — and launch a long career with the local team he’s watched all his life.
“That would be the best for me,” he said. “I’d love to stay home.”
Hinse, 19, is in his first year of junior football, leaving the University of Alberta Golden Bears after one season due to academic problems. He’s trying to upgrade to get back into school and the Wildcats are reaping the benefits.
“I wouldn’t trade him for anybody at this point,” said Durchik.
Hinse is an emotional firecracker, seen pounding the Clarke Park turf with his fist midway through his team’s 61-8 blowout win over the rival Edmonton Huskies. He was upset at himself for not bursting off the line as hard as he could, even though his team put up more than 500 rush yards in the game.
“I’m also getting a bit greedy,” said Hinse. “If we’re not getting five yards a carry, I’m not happy. That’s just getting used to playing so well, so I don’t take that very well.”
Tackles Milton Greyeyes and Jay Bradley, and centre Nick Ternovatsky round out the line. Greg Tyszka is their positional coach.
Jones, meanwhile, has been named the nation’s offensive player of the week once again for last week’s 344-yard, four-touchdown performance, the third time in a row he’s won the honour.
“We get him those first two yards and he gets everything else,” said Hinse.
“With Tristan, it’s something special.”
On Sunday, the Edmonton Huskies’ play their season finale against the Winnipeg Rifles at 1 p.m.
