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Lions gear up to be kings of city football league

August 31, 2004
By: admin
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By Shawn Logan
The Eagle
With some veteran talent leading a young Cochrane Lions bantam football squad this season, coach Pat Coyle expects the team has a good shot at winning the city title.
In four pre-season games, the always competitive Lions managed three wins and a tie, including a victory last week against the Cowboys, a perennial powerhouse in the Calgary Bantam Football Association (CBFA).
“Looking at it from the pre-season, we definitely could be there at the end for sure,” Coyle said. “With the three boys that went to the (Alberta) Summer Games, they’ll definitely come in leading this time.”
Quarterback Jared Clark and running back Nick Craig helped the Big Country Zone to a bronze medal along with Tom Knitter on the defensive side.
Craig, who was the top running back in the league last year, should continue to improve, Coyle said.
“Last season we had the best running back and we hope to build on that,” Coyle said.
Clark, the younger brother of Caleb Clark who starred for the Lions before leading the Bow Valley High school Bobcats to a pair of Tier IV provincial titles, will once again be the top signal caller on offence.
Coyle said Jared had many of the qualities that saw his brother dominate in the bantam league.
“They’re slightly different,” Coyle said. “Jared doesn’t have the roll out ability his brother had but his throwing arm and technique are very good.”
Knitter will lead the defence that includes four or five returnees and a solid defensive front.
Coyle said one of the most exciting parts of this year’s team is its youth, with 24 of the 40 players eligible to return for at least another year. Usually there are only 14 to 16 that can play again.
“We got quite a few strong kids from the pee wee program,” Coyle added.
Last year, the team fell short in both of its CBFA playoff games.
The Lions square off in their first league game at 11 a.m., Aug. 28 at Shouldice Field against the Hilltoppers.

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