For Huskies it’s all about the ring

By MONTY MOSHER Sports Reporter, The Chronicle Herald

September 11, 2009

Nothing short of a trip to the Vanier Cup this November in Quebec City will satisfy the 2009 edition of the Saint Mary’s Huskies.

Ranked No. 4 in the nation entering their season opener, the reigning two-time conference champions believe they have some unfinished business after losing 28-12 in the national semifinals last November on the road against the Western Ontario Mustangs.

Should Steve Sumarah’s Huskies prevail in the conference for a third straight year, they would host the Canada West winners in the Uteck Bowl. That could bring the Calgary Dinos, with former SMU quarterback Erik Glavic and ex-head coach Blake Nill, back to Halifax.

"Everybody is more motivated this year," said running back Devon Jones, who will be joined by brother Tristan in a powerful run attack this season. "Nobody is happy with an AUS championship. Nobody is happy with a (Uteck) Bowl championship. Nobody will be happy until we get a Vanier Cup."

The Huskies will be tested from the start Saturday at St. Francis Xavier. The X-Men have come within a whisker of beating the Huskies in each of the past two Loney Bowls in Halifax.

Sophomore Jack Creighton gets his first full season at the helm with Glavic, the 2007 Hec Crighton Trophy winner, transferring out after only playing in one game last year after knee surgery. Creighton looked like a rookie in spots, but showed some massive promise with his hands and feet after Sumarah gave him the reins down the stretch.

The Jones brothers, sons of former CFL star Milson Jones, will be joined in the backfield by Truro’s Craig Leger in a group so stacked they moved up-and-comer Jon Shreve to the defence. Leger had such a good camp he might start.

SMU ran for 2,228 yards in the regular season, an average of 278 yards per game, and 16 touchdowns.

Sumarah said he won’t have trouble spreading the ball among his three big rushers. "We normally don’t have a one-horse show here."

Fifth-year receivers Carl Hardwick and Aaron Racioppa and AUS top rookie Jahmeek Murray will be instrumental in the pass attack along with veterans Joe Doherty and Firass El Fateh. Shawn White, Ryean Warburton and CFL first-round pick Darcy Brown are the biggest losses.

The offensive line gets a makeover with Tom Elinesky, Bryan Jordan and Kyle McNeil out. Derek Weber at centre is the key returning veteran with Milton Greyeyes, Adam Baboulas, Tommy Gibbons, Adam Hawco and newcomer Guillaume Gagnier from Vanier College filling in the holes.

Dan Shutte leads a defensive line along with Austin McLennan and Andrew Dorey. Depth and size could be an issue against big runners and St. F.X.’s James Green gave the Huskies trouble last year.

Linebacker is solid with returnees Ryan King, Karl McCartney and Leroy Fontaine joined by newcomers Kyle Norris, from Ontario, and ex-Victoria junior Aaron Crawford. "At linebacker we’re going to be really strong," said Sumarah.

Cornerback Jeff Zelinski, back from CFL camp, anchors the secondary along with Saleem Borhot, Halifax’s Mark Holden and Jeff Hecht. Projected started Steve Watts will miss at least three weeks with a broken hand.

Joel Lipinski is the biggest departure from the unit.

Justin Palardy, the league scoring leader last year, will handle the kicking.

"Last year we had some changes with new systems on defence and special teams and a new quarterback," said Sumarah. "Those are three really big things. I feel like we’ve really settled down in those spots and I think and now it’s just a matter of guys going out and playing."

( mmosher@herald.ca)

’Nobody is happy with an AUS championship. Nobody is happy with a (Uteck) Bowl championship. Nobody will be happy until we get a Vanier Cup.’

devon jonesSaint Mary’s Huskies running back