Outlaws primed for battered Patriots in NFC playoffs

WATERLOO REGION — The Steel City Patriots are in a pivot panic.

The Northern Football Conference club has burned through three quarterbacks this season and will turn to its fourth — a converted receiver — when the Hamilton bunch takes on the TriCity Outlaws in quarterfinal action Saturday at Rogers Field in Cambridge at 7 p.m.

“In this league, you have to have a number one quarterback,” said Patriots owner and defensive coordinator Phil Costantini. “When you’re playing quarterback carousel like we have the entire season, it’s difficult, especially on the defence.”

The Outlaws still expect the Pats to be pesky, even if they’re hurting at the helm.

“They always play us pretty hard and they’re a tough-nosed team,” said Tri-City boss Gary Hudson.

“It’s the playoffs and pretty much a new season for everyone.”

The Outlaws finished the regular season with a record of 6-2 and tied the Oakville Longhorns for second place in the nine-team league. They haven’t seen the Patriots since a 37-19 victory to kick off the schedule about two months back.

A lot has changed with the Steel City crew.

Starting quarterback Denzel Rocha suffered a season-ending high ankle sprain in Week 2 while backup Leroy Williams hit sick bay about two weeks later. The team then inked youngster Ethan Belbeck only to see him hobble off the field soon after.

The barrage of bruises forced the Pats to turn to wideout Sean Squires down the stretch and into the playoffs. His quarterbacking experience?

“The last two games,” said Costantini, whose club was a respectable 1-1 when Rocha went down but lost their final six games of the campaign.

“All things considered, he has kept us in there. We have a pretty powerful defence so we’ve been competitive.”

And they’ll need that defence against the Outlaws, who boast the league’s second best offence with 255 points in eight games.

Quarterback has been a strength for Tri-City, with deadly Dan Daigle delivering in the air and, lately, on the ground, too.

“There is always room for improvement but I’d say he’s one of the top two (QBs) in the league,” said Hudson.

The Outlaws head into the post-season with a relatively healthy bench and some momentum after winning three of their final four games.

Costantini is hoping his Pats can grind out an upset.

“We just have to worry about getting first downs and eating the clock,” he said. “That’s going to be our game plan.”