MOTIVATED ON GRIDIRON
Need bounce-back season, Lancers coach says
The University of Windsor Lancers’ football program is hoping to turn a corner this season.
After back-to-back 2-6 campaigns, the Lancers want to get back into the OUA playoff picture this season.
“I think everyone’s just motivated this year,” Lancers quarterback Sam Girard said. “We just want to make it back to the playoffs.
“A lot of rookies want to prove themselves and vets want to get back and build from that.”
The Lancers open the season on Sunday against the Waterloo Warriors at Alumni Field. Game time is 1 p.m.
“You know what’s funny is we’ve shown over the last two years that we’re not far away,” Lancers head coach Joe D’Amore said. “The inconsistency over the last two years has been the downfall of our team.”
After hiring full-time assistant coaches Peter Fraser and Vince Flamia over the winter, D’Amore isn’t scrambling to put a staff together this season.
As well, the Lancers get a huge piece of their defensive puzzle back with linebacker Matt Gayer returning after missing the entire 2016 season. The club’s only 2015 OUA all-star, Gayer tore the ACL in his left knee in the first practice of camp.
“I was going up to break up a pass, my cleat got caught and my knee hyperextended,” said the 22-year-old Gayer, who is an Essex Ravens product and Cardinal Carter high school grad.
It was a hole in the roster the Lancers could not fill last season as D’Amore tried several options at strongside linebacker.
“That was a position we could not replace,” D’Amore said. “He’ll change our defence.”
It’s a difficult position to play with a player needing to have the strength to play in the box, but the speed to drop into the passing game.
“You have to be able to do a lot of things,” the 5-foot-9, 190-pound Gayer said.
He’s healthy now and ready to hit the field and work to get the team back into the playoffs.
“It was very difficult knowing that no matter what you wanted to do, you couldn’t be out there to play,” Gayer said of last season. “Some games were very tough, but that’s all behind us.
“I see a group of guys that get along well together. We’re ready to start a new chapter. We were successful in my early years, but it’s been down and we’re ready for a fresh start. We’re going to turn the page.”
Linebacker is an area of strength for the Lancers, with Gayer joined by Daniel Metcalfe at middle linebacker and Marcel Ugo at weakside linebacker.
“It’s probably one of the best linebacker corps in the country,” D’Amore said.
The defensive line should improve with a year of experience for second-year lineman Lowhya Lako, Zak Benson’s return from a back injury, along with veteran Courtney Ellis, Austin Ellis and the arrival of David Adelaj from the Windsor AKO Fratmen.
At defensive back, third-year man Evan Martin has been a starter since his freshman season, Jake Lindley returns while Erik Erickson has a year of experience, Jojo Sarfo-Boateng returns and D’Amore believes second-year man Isaiah Warner could be set for a breakout season.
“We’re excited about this group,” D’Amore said.
Girard starts at quarterback,
but will have some veteran help in front of him on the offensive line.
Drew Desjarlais moves to left tackle from right guard while C.J. Church, who filled in on defence last season, moves back to his natural position on offence at left guard. Centre Lucas Moore returns for his fourth season while Devin Desjardins starts at right guard with fifth-year man Brett Boersma at right tackle. The team has some depth at the position with freshmen Logan Demers and Lindon Ivezaj along with veterans Kolt Smith and Brandon Martins.
The Lancers have plenty of depth at both running back and receiver, which will give Girard options.
Marvin Gaynor and Marcus Kentner can be explosive out of the backfield while Braeden Braccio and freshman Jacob Savoni will also see time.
At receiver, the Lancers added Tristan Carter from James Madison University, with Cassell Jones, Daynar Facey, Dondre Palma and Cody Knights in the mix.
Clark Green returns to handle the kicking duties.
“I believe our 24 (starters) are as talented as anyone in our league,” D’Amore said. “There are issues at depth at certain spots. If the health becomes an issue, there could be some young kids thrust into playing time that we probably wouldn’t want, but we only graduate four players this year. So, 2018 is going to be a big year for us.
“We have a friendlier schedule (this season). We’re not thrown to the wolves from Day 1, like we have the past couple of years, and that’s hurt. These are games with teams right around us looking to take the next step and we have to win those games. We have to beat them. There are teams coming in saying, ‘We can beat Windsor’ and we can’t let that happen.”