FCC2018 PREVIEW: NOVA SCOTIA
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After a sixth-place finish last year in Wolfville, Nova Scotia hopes their resiliency will be their guiding force for success at the 2018 Football Canada Cup in Calgary, Alberta.
“We’re trying to get our guys to a point where they’re battling and competing non-stop, whether it’s a get up moment and you think you are injured or hurt, Head Coach Bryce Fisher elaborated. “It’s just get-up, be resilient and move on to the next play.”
“It’s on both sides of the ball and special teams. It’s just to compete to the end.”
For Nova Scotia, their goal is to mount a challenge to opposing teams throughout the tournament
“We’re just looking to really compete,” commented Head Coach Bryce Fisher. “The biggest thing in our province is that we have a good group of guys that are going in to compete.”
“We tell these guys that this basically their resume builder to go to the next level. The best way to do that is for them to be prepared mentally and physically, to put a good showing on and compete against every province we play. Our biggest thing is for them to be prepared for all situations so when it comes to the field, the score kind of takes care of themselves.”
Offensively, Nova Scotia will rely on quarterbacks Lucas Brocklehurst and Allan Young to help execute the game plan for the unit.
“Both of them have very high capabilities of throwing down the field,” added Fisher. “There is a lot of athletics abilities in both of them.”
“Their only differences would only be left-handed, right-handed at this point. Both are very knowledgeable at the game but they’re just progressing every day.”
Furthermore, returning players on the unit are expected to contribute to the success of the offence. Those include receivers Dawson Kierstead, Ben Harrington and Riley Felix as well as running back Jayden Simmonds. On the offensive line, Logan Scott, Nick Baumhour will use their experience and size to complement rookies with major upside such as Cornell Reddick and Mark Hamlin.
On the flip side, Nova Scotia’s defence is expected to have a university flavour with multiple fronts.
Once again, Nova Scotia will play Ontario in their first game of the 2018 Football Canada Cup on Monday July 16, 2018 at 1:00pm MST.
“You never really know what you are going to expect going into this tournament,” Fisher said. “You can kind of go to the roster and see what kids are doing but schematically you never really know.”
“Preparation wise, we are treating it like any other opponent. You can have a little bit of film here and there but you aren’t going to have a full game to watch to see what they’ve done offensively and defensively. Based on our history with Team Ontario, we have played them in the first game three times out in my five- year experience in this tournament. It always exciting and always looking forward to playing them. Me being from Ontario, I always look for that.”
TEAM NOVA SCOTIA
2017 RESULT: lost to British Columbia 24-10 to finish in sixth place
HEAD COACH: Bryce Fisher – second year (was assistant coach for Nova Scotia in 2015, 2016)
NUMBER OF RETURNING PLAYERS: between 8-15
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
| Jayden Simmonds | RB | Horton |
| Allan Young | QB | Citadel |
| Riley Felix | WR | Auburn |
| Lucas Brocklehurst | QB | Auburn |
| Dawson Keirstead | WR | Cole Harbour |
| Cornell Reddick | OL | Citadel |
| Mark Hamlin | OL | Sir John A MacDonald |
| Nick Baumhour | OL | Auburn |
| Ben Harrington | WR | Dartmouth
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