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The North Bay Bantam Bulldogs spent the week preparing for their second semi-final game in the last two years, as the club attempts to make it to the Ontario Summer Football League championship game in Windsor for the first time in Bantam Bulldogs history.
The Bulldogs' path to the semis was helped with a bye through the quarter-finals when the Chatham-Kent Cougars decided to forfeit, automatically moving the Bulldogs ahead.
"Although this is not how we wanted to get to the semi-finals," says head coach Christa Morgan, "it gave us an opportunity to give players that have had little injuries time to heal up and get ready for this game. We are now going into this game 100 per cent healthy with all players ready to go and ready to make some history."
Morgan and the Bulldogs coaching staff expect a battle on Saturday, as the team faces the visiting Brantford Bisons at 3:30 p.m. at Mike O'Shea Field in the Steve Omischl Sports Complex.
"We've got some film on this team from some of their opponents through the summer and it looks like we will be pretty evenly matched," Morgan says. "They have a couple of kids that we have to game plan for and they have an Ontario all-star on their defensive line that we have had to prepare the kids for. Our coaches have spent the week putting together what looks to be an effective game plan on paper, we will just have to see how it goes this weekend.
The defensive unit met early in the week to discuss the film as coaches strategized and honed the Bulldogs' attack for Saturday's game. After the unexpected week off, the tight-knit group, aged 12–14, returned to practice focused and vowed to play disciplined football through the weekend.
The defence, led by linebacker and two-time OSFL defensive player of the week Gage Campaigne and ball-hawking safety Even Smetana has reached the upper echelon of the OSFL this season. Many of this year's starters were also on the field as the Bulldogs lost a heartbreaking semi-final in Guelph last season after upsetting the top-ranked team from Oakville in the quarters.
"The players have taken all the information in and have practiced very well this week and are very focused, they understand this is where we went out last year and for those returning players they don’t want that feeling again this year," says Morgan. "Those returning players from last season's loss to Guelph, along with their teammates are ready to make their last season as a Bantam Bulldog one to remember and bring the championship to the North. The first step in making that happen is to win this weekend against the Brantford Bisons."
Star wideout Teo Nadeau is a full go after a prolonged injury recovery and will form a formidable receiving duo with Owen Landry for strong-armed quarterback Collin Smith. Plus, Nathan Boucher is always a threat to take it to the house from his backfield position. Morgan is eager to see how her charges put the game plan into action.
"If you’re a fan of football you are not going to want to miss this game. We are expecting our defence — which placed third overall in the U14 league — to give the Bisons everything they can handle and more. At the same time, our offence being back at full strength is expecting to make some great plays and keep the Bisons defence on their heels the entire game. I am very happy with the season so far and I am very excited to have the opportunity to possibly be in the championship game the weekend of August 5–6 in Windsor."
