SUMMERSIDE – The Summerside Waterwise Spartans have a chance to complete a perfect season.
The Charlottetown Privateers have an opportunity to spoil the party.
That is one of the storylines heading into the Ed Hilton Bowl – the championship game of the P.E.I. Bantam Tackle Football League – at Eric Johnston Field on Saturday. Start time is set for noon, and the Spartans are hoping for a big crowd.
“Anything can happen in one game, and we know that we have to show up with our A game,” said Spartans head coach Brian Goguen. “We will have to utilize our size, speed and physicality on both sides of the ball, and play well on special teams, to come out on top.”
Privateers head coach Coady Carr-Boulter said his team is looking forward to the opportunity to play in the title game.
“Most of these kids haven’t had winning seasons, and this is like the first time Charlottetown has looked like a top-two team since the last time they won (in 2012),” said Carr-Boulter. “That has them all excited.”
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The Spartans, who lost last season’s Ed Hilton Bowl in Summerside to the Cornwall Timberwolves, completed the regular season atop the standings at 6-0 (won-lost). Charlottetown was second at 4-2, with both losses against Summerside – 36-18 on Sept. 28 and 48-12 on Oct. 14.
“It will be a good matchup,” said Carr-Boulter, who admits the Privateers are entering the Ed Hilton Bowl as heavy underdogs. “I’m hoping my team comes out and plays better than they have the first two games (against Summerside), but we were missing starting players for both of them. I will hopefully have my full team ready to go Saturday.”
In last weekend’s semifinals, the Spartans defeated the Timberwolves while the Privateers topped the Kings County Steelers to advance.
Depth
The Spartans will look to take advantage of their strong depth.
“There are 21 players on the team, and every single player has made contributions to get the team to where we are today,” said Summerside defensive co-ordinator Paul Quinlan. “Every player has a job to do, and as long as they execute on every play for the entire game, the results should speak for themselves.”
What will be some keys for the Privateers?
“On defence we want to keep being consistent and (be strong) in our coverage, and for our offence run the ball and throw the ball as much as possible,” answered Carr-Boulter. “We want to try and get in a few more successful passes (than in the first two meetings against Summerside) while still being able to effectively run the ball.”
“Charlottetown has a very good young team that has nothing to lose on Saturday.”
The Spartans have impressed the team’s coaching staff, which also includes Ken Blood, Jamie Matheson and Chris MacDougall, with a team-first attitude. The Spartans’ motto for the season is a quote from NBA coaching legend Phil Jackson: “The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team."
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Honour Roll
Recent winners of the Ed Hilton Bowl:
2017 – Cornwall Timberwolves.
2016 – Summerside Spartans.
2015 – Summerside Spartans.
2014 – Summerside Spartans.
2013 – Summerside Spartans.
2012 – Charlottetown Privateers.
2011 – Summerside Spartans.
2010 – Cornwall Timberwolves.
