CFL.ca Staff
MONTREAL — The Bishop’s Gaiters football team enters the 2010 season looking to better last season’s .500 record and third-place finish. The Gaiters won their last three regular season games to finish third in the QUFL at 4-4, a finish that defied most preseason expectations.
For the first time in a number of years, the Gaiters can be considered a veteran squad, with experience at each of the starting positions, lead by fifth-year quarterback Jesse Andrews. While the losses of Shawn Gore and Steven Turner to the professional ranks, and Wes Rundle and Nick Rigg to graduation will be felt, the Gaiters’ increased depth over the past few years should begin to pay dividends.
“I feel very good about our athletes and our program right now. We have some excellent returning players, and I think we have a good group of young players as well. A lot of these guys can step in and play right away,” said Gaiters’ Head Coach Leroy Blugh. “I think the fans will see some things from our offence that they haven’t seen before.”
Offensively, new coordinator Benoît Groulx has a veteran lineup in front of him, but one that finished sixth in the league last year in both rushing and passing. “I think we’re going to be more exciting,” said Blugh. “Ben brings a youthful enthusiasm. We will throw the football, but we are also committed to the run. We have a lot of weapons, and we’ll see who can rise up and produce on Saturdays.”
Starting quarterback Jesse Andrews (Pickering, Ont.) returns for his fifth season, and he will look to improve on his 1,338-yard performance from last year. He set career highs last year with nine touchdowns and a 130.9 efficiency rating. He was also a threat on the ground, rushing for 333 yards and four touchdowns.
The key targets for Andrews will be veteran receivers Olivier Mongeau (Sorel, Que.) and Duraney White (Montreal, Que.), with Matt Burke (Timberlea, N.S.) and John Jean-Baptiste (Ottawa, Ont.) likely to carry the load in the backfield. Up front, a veteran lineup led by fourth-year tackle Alex Lau (Kingston, Ont.) and second-year tackle Ryan White (Montreal, Que.) will be responsible for creating the space for the Gaiters’ new offence to function.
Defensively, the Gaiters return ten starters from their 2009 unit, losing only Wes Rundle and Nick Rigg to graduation. “It helps our evolution as a defensive unit,” said Blugh. “You get to move ahead quickly without having to back to ‘day 1’ fundamental football. They’ll be playing with more understanding and more confidence.”
Leading the Gaiters’ returnees is linebacker Justin Conn (New Maryland, N.B.), who was drafted in the sixth round by the Montreal Alouettes this year, and Nick Poloniato (Hamilton, Ont.), who was named a QUFL All-Star cornerback in 2009. Poloniato is joined in the secondary by Harrison Maloney (Thurso, Que.), the 2008 QUFL Rookie of the Year, and Jermaine Gabriel (Toronto, Ont.), who accomplished the rare feat of starting in the QUFL directly from high school. Up front, the Gaiters return three starters, led by Junior Turner (Brampton, Ont.), who was named to the 2010 East-West Bowl.
In the offseason, the Gaiters also made several key additions to their coaching staff. The most notable addition is Benoît Groulx, the former Laval quarterback, who takes over as Offensive Coordinator. Groulx was one of the most decorated players in QUFL history, and has already impressed with his extensive knowledge of the game.
Also joining the Gaiters’ staff this year is Éric Joly, who becomes the team’s first-ever strength and conditioning coach. New coaches on the offensive side also include ex-Gaiters Javier Rivera and Chris Bromfield, who will coach the team’s receivers, along with Mike Gagné, who will coach running backs and assist on special teams. The Gaiters have picked up a pair of coaches from the Cégep de Sherbrooke, as Louis Parent will coach the linebackers, while Daniel Paquette moves over to coach the kickers.
The first year of the QUFL’s expanded nine-game schedule has given the Gaiters four home games this year. Bishop’s will open on September 4 against Concordia, in their first-ever night game at Coulter Field. Homecoming follows two weeks later on September 18 as the Acadia Axemen pay a visit to Lennoxville in the Gaiters’ only AUS interlock game this year.
The remaining home contests come on October 2 against the Montreal Carabins, and the Mayor’s Cup on October 23 against Sherbrooke. The team hits the road five times, visiting each of their QUFL opponents, starting with a trip to McGill on September 11. The Gaiters will play Concordia in the annual Shrine Bowl on September 25, and have trips to Sherbrooke, Laval and Montreal in October.
A potential 13 straight weeks of football awaits the Gaiters, should they advance to the Vanier Cup in Quebec City.
2009 in review:
Regular season record: 4-4
Regular season standings: 3rd
Playoff record: 0-1
Playoff result: Lost 40-15 to Montreal in QUFL semifinal
Coaching record – Leroy Blugh
Number of seasons as head coach with team (including 2010): 6
Number of seasons as head coach in CIS (including 2010): 6
Career regular season record with team: 14-26
Career regular season record in CIS: 14-26
Career overall record with team (reg. season & playoffs only): 14-28
OFFENCE
Offensive coordinator: Benoît Groulx
Key returning players: QB Jesse Andrews, RB Matt Burke, WR Olivier Mongeau, OL Ryan White
Key recruits/transfers: REC Steven Adekolu (Brampton, Ont. – Champlain College), WR/KR Alexander Fox (Montreal – Collège Édouard-Montpetit), WR Alex Ward (St-Bruno, Que. – Collège Édouard-Montpetit), OL Adam Hughes (Brampton, Ont. – Champlain College), QB Alex Rivet (Lemoyne, Que. – Cégep Vieux Montréal)
Key departures: SB Shawn Gore (Green Bay – NFL), SB Steven Turner (Toronto – CFL)
DEFENCE
Defensive coordinator: Ray Gagnon
Key returning players: CB Nick Poloniato, DB Harrison Maloney, LB Justin Conn, DL Junior Turner, S Jermaine Gabriel
Key recruits/transfers: LB Mark De Swart (High River, Alta. – Vancouver Island Raiders Jr. CJFL), DL Jean-Christophe Gagnon (Cap-de-la-Madeleine, Que. – Champlain College), LB Adrian Clarke (Mississuagua, Ont. – Father Davd Goetz), CB Randy Ouaton (Ottawa, Ont. – Franco-Cité)
Key departures: DL Nick Rigg, LB Wed Rundle
-With files from the Bishop’s University Gaiters
