Heading into the opening game of the 2009 Quebec University Football League season on Sunday, the Concordia Stingers boast an impressive offence and a feisty, young defence.
“Quarterback Rob Mackay has had a tremendous training camp,” says head coach Gerry McGrath. “He does everything well. He sees the field, he runs well, he has a great arm and he provides great leadership.
“I don’t know if we’ve had this talented an offence since 1998 (Vanier Cup finalists in ’98). We’re pretty solid with Rob running the show.”
On offence, Mackay returns from an injury suffered midway through the 2007 season. He is the most prominent of the nine returners on offence. He has a spectacular set of receivers and highly skilled running backs at his disposal. All the big losses come on the offensive line as the Stingers have graduated three starters. The team feels it has the experienced bodies to fill the spots.
On defence, only six starters return. The Stingers lost four fifth-year seniors – two defensive ends and two linebackers. Then Ricky Zieba, the immensely popular young linebacker who was expected to play a big role in 2009, died in a car accident in June.
There is some great talent returning to guide the newcomers, including two all-stars – linebacker Cory Greenwood, who is going into his draft year and has garnered CFL and NFL attention, and safety Nicholas Arsenault-Hum.
“We’re inexperienced but talented,” says McGrath of his defence. “We’ll be as good as any other defence come playoff time, and that’s when it counts the most.”
The No. 6-ranked Stingers travel to Ste. Foy, Que. to face the No. 1-ranked Laval Rouge et Or in their season-opener. It will be a rematch of the Dunsmore Cup championship that saw the Rouge et Or eke out a late 28-17 victory last November.
Concordia’s home opener is Sunday, Sept. 13 at 4:30 p.m. The Montréal Carabins will be the visitors.
