PFC PREVIEW WEEK #1

                                  By Tom Hallick, PFC Media Coordinator

 

The 34th PFC season kicks off Saturday night at Edmonton’s Clarke Park. Let’s take a look at the matchups in the first week.

                          CALGARY COLTS AT EDMONTON HUSKIES- August 21 7PM MDT

The season’s opening game features a pair of clubs who have a lot to prove. The visiting Colts who were only 30 minutes away from a regular season championship, only to have the trap door open and fall all the way down to 3rd and a subsequent semi-final defeat to the eventual champion Edmonton Wildcats. The Colts aim to be more than a one-dimensional outfit on offense as they’ll try to utilize RB Cuong Thai Lieu more.

The Huskies are anxious to rid themselves of a losing streak that has stretched over two seasons. The first step back to respectability was the hiring of Bill MacDermott as the head coach. The new bench boss brings a wealth of experience (over 50+ seasons) to the position. MacDermott’s first hire was ex-CFL’er Rick Walters who takes the reins as Offensive Coordinator.  To that end, the Huskies staff expect rookie QB Trevor Erdmann to provide a spark. On defense, Korey Johnson, the CJFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2009 returns to lead an improving line.

 

                        REGINA THUNDER AT EDMONTON WILDCATS- August 22 1PM MDT

If there’s such a thing as a “Marquee Matchup” in the opening week of the season, then look no further than right here.

The Thunder are led by the ’09 PFC Passing Yards leader Reid Quest who has a superb group of receivers which include Jay Smith, Camille Lagimodiere and Kolten Solomon. The run game will be given a boost by 5th year back Mark Coons & newcomer Liam Dow who will be playing against his former Wildcat mates.

The PFC champions aren’t exactly lacking in the receiving corps as PFC Rookie of the Year Jerit Lambert and Mitch Richter lead a crew that will have Adam Senuik at quarterback as Andy Pilon has graduated. Justin McEvoy is still the feature back in the Wildcats scheme.

 

                 WINNIPEG RIFLES AT SASKATOON HILLTOPS- AUGUST 22 1PM LOCAL

For the second consecutive season, the Rifles open on the road in Saskatoon. The Rifles hung tough for 3 quarters in last year’s opener only to fall 44-21. Ryan Marsch gets the start on Sunday afternoon. Receivers Matt Lariviere & Drew Oleksewycz return and RB Kienan Lafrance carries the load in the backfield.

For the home-standing Hilltops, 2010 could be seen as a season of change as 11 members of the ’09 team graduated, but seldom is the word rebuilding ever heard around the clubhouse.

Chase Bradshaw started 3 games in 2009 and has inherited the starting quarterback’s job with Jordan Penner having graduated.

The defense is as solid as ever with 5th year men S Graig Newman, LB Scott Splawinski and LB Corbin Eskelson leading the way.