Brock Bulldogs newest member of high school AAA football league and have their eyes locked on 12-time champions Crestwood

Date: 2009-09-10
By Todd Vandonk - Peterborough This Week
  The new kids in town want a crack at the champs.

And the champs, aka the Crestwood Mustangs, are up to the challenge.

In only their third season of senior football and fifth year of running a football program at Brock High School, the Bulldogs have left the Lake Ontario Secondary School Athletics (LOSSA) division to compete in the Kawartha senior boys' AAA football loop this season.

With the move comes high expectations, according to head coach Matt Elliott.

"Our goal is to make the playoffs and hopefully get into a one-game winner-take-all with Crestwood. In a single game you never know what could happen," says Elliott.

Elliott is confident his club's success in LOSSA can translate into victories against their new opponents. Last season the Bulldogs captured the tier-two LOSSA title, while recording nine wins and one loss in regular and post-season action.

"We have worked hard at establishing a football culture and have not had a losing season at either junior or senior since our first campaign. We are looking forward to joining a new league and hope to be competitive right away," says Elliott, adding he expects his team to win more games than they lose.

Leading the way for the Bulldogs on offense is running back Jesse Sale. The reigning two-time tier-two most valuable player carries the bulk of the load om offence, according to Elliott.

"Jesse is a team leader and he may be a better blocker than runner. He is an all-around athlete that we will lean on heavily if we hope to have any success this season," Elliott says of his six-foot 200-pound back that ran for 1,600 yards and 16 touchdowns last season.

As for the Mustangs, it was business as usually last season as they earned an impressive 12th straight Kawartha championships, a Centrail Ontario Secondary School Athletics (COSSA) gold, and a Eastern regional title before losing to Kingston's Frontenac in the National Capital Bowl at Rogers Centre.

There are changes to the Mustangs' coaching roster heading into 2009 campaign, but that shouldn't stop the dynasty from taking a run at 13th straight City championship. According to first-year head coach Garth Scott, who replaces Shane Oldfield at the helm, 10-of-12 starters are returning on offence, while eight-of-12 return on defence.

"The expectation is to challenge for a Kawartha and COSSA championship," says Scott, adding that Oldfield is still involved as he looks after the offensive play calling. That role became vacant when Crestwood's eight-year offensive co-ordinator Andrew Ross took over the head coaching position for the junior squad.

Scott admits it's hard to stay on top year after and welcomes Brock's desire to end the Mustangs' championship run.

"I like it. It's great honour to know they want knock us off. One of things that come with winning is that other teams come gunning for you," says Scott, noting he doesn't know much about Brock's team.

"I know they have done well in a strong Durham division, so I am curious to see how they do. The league is going to be really competitive with the addition of Brock and the traditionally strong Thomas A. Stewart and Fenelon Falls teams," he adds.

With the addition of Brock, the AAA senior loop increases to eight teams with each team playing each other once on the regular-season schedule, which is set to start next Friday (Sept. 18). For a full schedule and break down of all eight teams visit www.mykawartha.com/sports