Photo courtesy Krista L. Hillman

Last year start through three games:
Varsity: 3-0
Junior Varsity: 3-0

Last year finish:
Varsity: Lost in conference semi-final to Cumberland
Junior Varsity: Lost in conference semi-final to Brampton

Players to watch
RB Pelie Jorgen
RB Jordan Richards
DB Eric Richards
QB Brett Stein

Varsity

Metro Toronto varsity head coach Frank Panos is back coaching the Wildcats after coaching the the Thunder for the past ten years but he already thinks the team can match their undefeated start last season, which includes a meeting with his former team.

“I think we are capable of starting with a three and 0 record, yes.” he said.

Panos says the team has a good core of players coming up from junior varsity level and a strong batch of returners.

Highlighting the group is the team’s running back corps. Alex Malone, Jordan Richards, Travis Jennings and George Daniel are expected to lead the offense.

“It’s fair to say all four of those players could be starters on any other football team,” Panos added.

According to Panos, all four backs are strong, fast, strong and have good hands. Malone had 144 yards on 23 carries last season in JV. Jennings put up 5 touchdowns and 640 yards. Richards, another JV product, had 6 touchdowns in 64 carries while Daniel had 3 touchdowns on the varsity team.

On defense, Panos says shutdown corner Eric Richards and defensive lineman Jeremy Magan-France are expected to have big seasons.

Richards had five picks last year with varsity and five batted balls. Magan-France, who Panos says is both aggressive and smart, had one sack with JV.

Panos hasn’t designated a starting quarterback yet but he plans to have a go-to-guy in the pocket with the other working in a limited role.

The Metro Wildcats welcome the new-look Newmarket Bucs to Birchmount Stadium the first game of the season. The York Simcoe Bucs, formerly in the Ontario Football Conference, combined with the Newmarket Storm this year to form the new team.

“They are going to be stronger than they were last year,” Panos said

The key, he says, is to focus on the basics.

“(We need to) focus on fundamentals to keep it somewhat simple and just execute as best we can,” he said. “And I think we’ll have a faster team than they will. I anticipate us winning that football game.”