The team that was within one game of making the second round at the Alberta provincial football level in 2010 is ready to prove last season wasn’t a fluke.
The Springbank Phoenix, who dropped their provincial Tier 2 opener to Okotoks’ Foothills Composite last fall, began practice last week with the hope of claiming the Rocky View Sports Association football title and earning another shot at provincials.
Although the team lost a number of Grade 12 players from last season, head coach Tony Lucas said his guys will be ready for the opener against Chestermere on Sept. 9.
“We don’t have any superstars, but we’re not really weak at any position either,” Lucas said. “Generally that makes for a better team, so I’m not concerned about it. We’ve got a really good group of kids.”
The first few practice sessions didn’t feature the full Phoenix roster, as school began on Sept. 6, but Lucas said the 19 players who have already been out are ready to go. He expects around 35 players when the season begins.
“Those guys who are here are in really good condition, but it would be nice to have higher numbers,” Lucas said during practice on Sept. 1.
“We haven’t had 24, so we haven’t been able to go 12 on 12. Literally, half the team is here, but we have to do these practices.
Joel Stagg, last year’s primary quarterback, has graduated, but Grade 11 student Levi Jackson, who took some snaps as a Grade 10 player last season, will move into the role.
“I want to do better than we did last year and make it all the way – I want to win,” Jackson said.
“In practice, I just need to put myself mentally as if it’s a game, so I can be ready. I think our strengths will be our receiving corps and our secondary.”
“He’s really worked hard in the off-season and really gotten himself ready,” Lucas said. “He’s definitely ahead of where I expected him to be, so we’re pleased with that. I think we’re going to be able to throw the ball reasonably well.”
Grade 12 running back Ben Bassett will return as a three-year starter, so Lucas is confident in his offence, but he is still unsure of the defensive formation.
“We did lose a lot of guys, especially on defence, which was the strength of our team,” he said.
“We’ve got some good athletes, but I don’t know if we’re set there yet for this year. The question for us is: do we have enough big boys? Sometimes in high school, we have guys here, but it ends up coming down to recruiting guys in the hallways. And our first game is four days after school starts. That’s one of the things about high school football.”
The Phoenix will host the Chestermere Cowboys at Springbank High School field on Sept. 9. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m.
