2009 was a tale of two seasons for the Gaiters. The first half of the year saw the Gaiters stumble out of the gate, with a win at McGill proving to be the only bright spot in the first four games. A last-minute 21-19 Homecoming loss to McGill sent the Gaiters into the bye week with a 1-4 record, knowing they needed three straight wins just to make the playoffs. The charge to the postseason started on October 17, when the Gaiters cruised past the previously-unbeaten (and No.-6 ranked) St. F. X. X-Men 33-12, and continued back at home the next week, with a 21-16 upset over then-No.-4 Montreal. Coming into the last week of the season, the Gaiters faced the same scenario as 2008: win and get in, lose and go home. Unlike in 2008, the Gaiters got it done, as Andrews' 7-yard scramble on third-and-goal with 26 seconds left gave Bishop's a 40-38 victory over Concordia – sending the Gaiters on their second trip to the postseason in three years.
In the offseason, the Gaiters also made several key additions to their coaching staff. The most notable addition is Benoît Groulx, the former Laval quarterback, who takes over as Offensive Coordinator. Groulx was one of the most decorated players in QUFL history, and has already impressed with his extensive knowledge of the game. Also joining the Gaiters' staff this year is Éric Joly, who becomes the team's first-ever strength and conditioning coach. New coaches on the offensive side also include ex-Gaiters Javier Rivera and Chris Bromfield, who will coach the team's receivers, along with Mike Gagné, who will coach running backs and assist on special teams. The Gaiters have picked up a pair of coaches from the Cégep de Sherbrooke, as Louis Parent will coach the linebackers, while Daniel Paquette moves over to coach the kickers.
The first year of the QUFL's expanded nine-game schedule has given the Gaiters four home games this year. Bishop's will open on September 4 against Concordia, in their first-ever night game at Coulter Field. Homecoming follows two weeks later on September 18 as the Acadia Axemen pay a visit to Lennoxville in the Gaiters' only AUS interlock game this year. The remaining home contests come on October 2 against the Montreal Carabins, and the Mayor's Cup on October 23 against Sherbrooke. The team hits the road five times, visiting each of their QUFL opponents, starting with a trip to McGill on September 11. The Gaiters will play Concordia in the annual Shrine Bowl on September 25, and have trips to Sherbrooke, Laval and Montreal in October. A potential 13 straight weeks of football awaits the Gaiters, should they advance to the Vanier Cup in Quebec City.
OFFENCE
Offensively, new coordinator Benoît Groulx has a veteran lineup in front of him, but one that finished sixth in the league last year in both rushing and passing. “I think we're going to be more exciting,” said Blugh. “Ben brings a youthful enthusiasm. We will throw the football, but we are also committed to the run. We have a lot of weapons, and we'll see who can rise up and produce on Saturdays.”
Starting quarterback Jesse Andrews (Pickering, Ont.) returns for his fifth season, and he will look to improve on his 1,338-yard performance from last year. He set career highs last year with nine touchdowns and a 130.9 efficiency rating. He was also a threat on the ground, rushing for 333 yards and four touchdowns. The key targets for Andrews will be veteran receivers Olivier Mongeau (Sorel, Que.) and Duraney White (Montreal, Que.), with Matt Burke (Timberlea, N.S.) and John Jean-Baptiste (Ottawa, Ont.) likely to carry the load in the backfield. Up front, a veteran lineup led by fourth-year tackle Alex Lau (Kingston, Ont.) and second-year tackle Ryan White (Montreal, Que.) will be responsible for creating the space for the Gaiters' new offence to function. Quarterbacks
The only five-year starter in the QUFL, Jesse Andrews returns for his final season in charge of the Gaiters offence. Andrews, who took over as the Gaiters' starter on September 30, 2006 and has started all 29 regular-season games since then, will look to boost the Gaiter offence above last year's 314 yards per game average. He threw for 1,338 yards last season, including nine touchdowns. Andrews was also the Gaiters' second-leading rusher with 333 yards, highlighted by a 72-yard touchdown run at St.F.X.
Behind Andrews will be Jordan Heather (Oromocto, N.B.), who is going into his second year of eligibility. Heather made his first career start on November 7, in the Gaiters' playoff game at Montreal, where he went 12-for-28 for 205 yards and a touchdown. He saw limited action in the regular season, but did have a 73-yard touchdown pass against Laval on September 27.
Pushing Andrews and Heather will be Shane McDonald (Pickering, Ont.), a redshirt freshman who has made significant progress in the past year, and Alex Rivet (Lemoyne, Que.), a transfer from the Montréal Carabins who missed most of last season with an injury.
Running Backs
The Gaiters have a deep and experienced corps of running backs in 2010. Last year saw the emergence of Matt Burke as a force in the backfield. The second-year Champlain College alum led the Gaiters with 417 yards on 94 carries last season and was sixth on the league's rushing list. He was named the Gaiters' Newcomer of the Year last year, and greater things are expected of him this season. Burke will compete for time with John Jean-Baptiste, who is going into his third year. Jean-Baptiste gained 169 yards on 48 carries last year.
Kyle Exumé (Brooklin, Ont.) and Kareem Lawrence (Montreal, Que.) have both been impact players on special teams, but will also be challenging for increased playing time on offence. Redshirt freshmen Ron-Lee King-Fileen (Oshawa, Ont.) and Ryon McCalla (Brampton, Ont.) are both strong athletically, and have made great progress in the offseason, while Quincy Van De Cruize (Etobicoke, Ont.), another ex-Cougar, will also look to move up the depth chart.
There is also depth at the fullback position, as veteran Tim Cronk (Kingston, Ont.) returns for his final season. He was primarily used as a blocking back and long snapper last season, but did score his first two career touchdowns. Backing up the veteran will be newcomer Luca Urbani (Montreal, Que.), an ex-Vanier Cheetah, and converted linebacker Pier-Luc Champagne (Sorel, Que.).
Receivers
Unquestionably, the biggest losses to hit the Gaiters' offence come in the receiving corps, with slot backs Shawn Gore (Green Bay Packers) and Steven Turner (Toronto Argonauts) both now having moved on to the professional ranks. However, both of 2009's starting wide receivers return this season, led by Olivier Mongeau, who is going into his final season. Mongeau, a 2010 East-West Bowl participant, caught 27 passes for 419 yards last season. On the other side, Duraney White returns for his second season in Gaiter colours, after making 18 catches for 200 yards in 2009.
White and Mongeau will be pushed by veteran David Haddrall (Kingston, Ont.), who saw limited action in seven games last season but will be looking to make a bigger contribution this season. Geoff Coventry (Orleans, Ont.) and Bruce Swinden (Cornwall, Ont.) will also both look to crack the lineup after redshirting last season. Among the newcomers, Tristan Bailey (Ottawa, Ont.), who was named a 2008 regional high school all-star by the Ottawa Citizen, has impressed in the early workouts.
The early favorites to take the two vacant starting slotback positions are Steven Adekolu (Brampton, Ont.) and Dave Soucy (Sherbrooke, Que.). Soucy started three games last year after Steven Turner went down with an injury late in the season, making six catches for 71 yards, while Adekolu was forced to redshirt last year but is expected to contribute this year. Also in the mix are Major Newman (Scarborough, Ont.), Shantino Wilson (Brampton, Ont.), Alexander Fox (Montreal West, Que.), and Alex Ward (St-Bruno, Que.). Newman saw action in six games last year, primarily on special teams, while Wilson returns to the squad after a one-year absence. Fox and Ward, both former Edouard-Montpetit Lynx, are new to the Gaiters this year. Fox led the Lynx last year with 27 catches in eight games, while the 6'3” Ward made nine catches for 11 yards in 2009.
Offensive Line
The Gaiters' offensive line will be an experienced group, with nine veterans - including three starters - returning this year. 2009 starters Ryan White, Alex Lau and Kyle Handy (Cornwall, Ont.), all return to anchor the Gaiters' front five. While third-year man Noubar Mareshlian (Saint-Laurent, Que.) and redshirt freshman Adam Hughes (Brampton, Ont.) are currently penciled into the starting lineup to replace the departed Mike Berta and Phil Sauer, they will be face keen competition from veteran reserves Robert Frac (Brampton, Ont.) and Tyler Harding (Pickering, Ont.), along with redshirt freshmen Doug Manary (North Bay, Ont.) and Jordan Allen (Kingston, Ont.).
DEFENCE
Defensively, the Gaiters return ten starters from their 2009 unit, losing only Wes Rundle and Nick Rigg to graduation. “It helps our evolution as a defensive unit,” said Blugh. “You get to move ahead quickly without having to back to 'day 1' fundamental football. They'll be playing with more understanding and more confidence.”
Leading the Gaiters' returnees is linebacker Justin Conn (New Maryland, N.B.), who was drafted in the sixth round by the Montreal Alouettes this year, and Nick Poloniato, who was named a QUFL All-Star cornerback in 2009. Poloniato is joined in the secondary by Harrison Maloney (Thurso, Que.), the 2008 QUFL Rookie of the Year, and Jermaine Gabriel (Toronto, Ont.), who accomplished the rare feat of starting in the QUFL directly from high school. Up front, the Gaiters return three starters, led by Junior Turner (Brampton, Ont.), who was named to the 2010 East-West Bowl.
Defensive Line The Gaiters will feature a deep front four this year, with three starters set to return. Leading the line is fourth-year tackle Junior Turner, who made a team-high 6.5 tackles for loss last year, and also had an interception return for a touchdown. At the other tackle spot, third-year Scarborough native Kenrick Ritchie will look to solidify his spot in the starting lineup. He recorded 17.5 tackles in eight games last season. At the ends, Elie Ngoyi (Sherbrooke, Que.) will look to build on a rookie season that saw him make 25.5 tackles and two sacks, while Mathieu Boulay (Magog, Que.) will look to move into the spot vacated by Nick Rigg. Boulay made 13 tackles last year, but five of them were for losses, including four sacks.
Challenging the starters for time at the ends will be third-year Winnipeg native Kevin Kwasny and Steven McCollum (Brampton, Ont.), who played only one game in his rookie season last year.
Among the tackles, the starters will be pushed by veteran Yan Jacques (Mont St-Hilaire, Que.), who played eight games last season, and Jean-René Junior Pierre, a transfer from the Sherbrooke Vert et Or. Rookie Jean-Christophe Gagnon (Cap-de-la-Madeleine, Que.), a 2008 Cégep AAA All-Star with the Champlain Cougars, will also look to force his way into the starting lineup. Linebackers
The anchor of the Gaiters' linebacking corps is Justin Conn, who made one tackle in a pair of exhibition games with the Alouettes this summer. Conn moved back to his natural linebacker position midway through the season, and recorded 23 tackles, including five for losses. Also returning to start for the Gaiters is fifth-year Delta, B.C. native Zak Buis. Buis made 22.5 tackles, including 1 sack, and ran an interception back for a touchdown last season.
Competing for the spot left by the departure of Wes Rundle will be Tyler Jutras (Chateauguay, Que.), who made 27.5 tackles, including a pair of sacks as well as an interception and a forced fumble in eight games, and Mark De Swart (High River, Alta.). De Swart played parts of three seasons at the University of Calgary, and spent last year with the Vancouver Island Raiders juniors, where he was named a 2009 Canadian Junior Football League All-Canadian last season as he led the Raiders to a national championship.
Pushing the starters for playing time will be Dan West (Ajax, Ont.), who started three games last year and made 16.5 tackles and forced a fumble, along with Trevor Kemp (Ottawa, Ont.) and Ryan Corry (Newmarket, Ont.). Corry, who is going into his second year, played eight games last year, while Kemp, a redshirt freshman, dressed once. Also in the mix is rookie Adrian Clarke (Mississauga, Ont.) who comes to Bishop's after being named Athlete of the Year at Father David Goetz High School.
Defensive Backs
The Gaiters return an experienced and deep defensive secondary, led by halfback Harrison Maloney and cornerback Nick Poloniato. Poloniato was named a QUFL All-Star last season, after making 23.5 tackles, one interception and eight knockdowns. He was 2nd in Quebec, and 7th nationally with 1.12 passes defended per game. Maloney made 32 tackles, one interception and knocked down six passes in 2009. Second-year Torontonian Jermaine Gabriel returns to the safety position. As a true freshman last year, the 19-year-old tied for the team lead with 32 tackles, and made two interceptions in last year's QUFL semi-final. Fourth-year halfback Jermaine Lewis-Parris regained his starting spot last season, and made 26.5 tackles and four pass knockdowns. Shane Francis (Toronto, Ont.) will shift from safety to halfback, after making 25 tackles and an interception last year.
Fourth-year halfback Corey Cook (Chateauguay, Que.) and fifth-year cornerback Shawn Naylor (Ottawa, Ont.) will also see significant playing time, along the sophomores, Ryland Smith (Brampton, Ont.), Ben McPherson (Napanee, Ont.). Kiron Clarke (Brampton, Ont.) returns after a year's absence and will look to regain his place in the lineup.
Redshirt freshmen Marcus Lam-Peters (Toronto, Ont.), Apollo Charlton (Brampton, Ont.) and Troy Jarrett (Montreal, Que.) will look to continue their progress and fight for spots on the dress roster. Among the rookies, 5'11” cornerback Randy Ouaten (Ottawa, Ont.) has shown well in early workouts.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Punter/Kicker
Fourth-year kicker Josh Maveety (Kingston, Ont.) will be looking to rebound from a disappointing 2009 season. Maveety finished fourth in the league with an average of 35.4 yards per punt, and averaged 57.2 yards on kickoffs. He also set a team record with eight single points last season. Field goals proved to be more of a challenge for the veteran, as he only connected on five placements in the season. In 2010, he will share kicking duties with Mathieu Paquette (Magog, Que.), a transfer from the Montréal Carabins. Paquette redshirted last season, but spent three seasons with the Cégep de Sherbrooke Volontaires, and was the MVP of the 2007 Bol d'Or.
Returners
Steven Turner's accession to the professional ranks will be celebrated by kickers throughout the league. While his raw speed and explosiveness will be difficult to replace, the Gaiters boast several capable kick returners.
The Gaiters' leading returner is second-year receiver Dave Soucy, who ran back 22 kicks for 166 yards. He averaged 15.2 yards on kickoff returns and 4.7 yards on punt returns. Major Newman showed promise in his rookie season last year as he ran back six kicks last season for 77 yards, while newcomer Alexander Fox, the 2008 Cégep AAA Special Teams Player of the Year, is also expected to have immediate impact on the return game. Veteran Olivier Mongeau, who ran back eight punts for 68 yards last year, and Shawn Naylor, who had five kick returns for 45 yards, will also handle some of the return duties.
Kick Coverage
The leader in this area for the past two years has been Kyle Exumé, who made 9.0 Special Teams Tackles last year, blocked a kick and recovered a fumble. Fifth-year fullback Tim Cronk will handle the bulk of the long-snapping, with Justin Conn also potentially seeing time in that position. Overall, the Gaiters' increased depth should allow the team to spread the coverage duties around further, reducing the number of veterans asked to play on all four special teams units.
