Bulldogs look to open with victory in Sarnia

Jason Ferreira tosses the ball around in practice on Thursday. Photo by Chris Dawson.

The Sarnia Imperials have yet to win a game in the NFC and the Bulldogs want to keep it that way.

The Bulldogs won their only game of the year last year 41-6 against the expansion franchise at Rollie Fischer field and the two teams clash on Saturday in Sarnia on the opening week of the Northern Football Conference schedule.

Bulldogs quarterback Jason Ferreira says the club doesn’t want to be like the 1993 Sudbury Spartans who were the team that allowed the expansion Bulldogs to get their first win in franchise history.

“We are a team coming off a 1-7 record and we aren’t in a position to take anybody for granted,” said Ferreira at practice on Thursday night.

“We have to stay within ourselves it’s the first game of the year and things always go wrong but as long as we stay composed and stick to the game plan I think we’ll be fine.”

Bulldogs head coach Marc Mathon believes execution will be the key.

“It’s our first game it’s going to be mistakes on both sides of the ball and we just need to be patient and we need to capitalize on their mistakes,” said Mathon.

Receiver Steve Asselin is another one of the veteran Bulldogs who came out of retirement this spring. The speedy receiver is hobbled a bit by a pulled hamstring but he’s confident Ferreira, second all-time in passing yards in the NFC, will be able to pick apart the Imperials defence.

“I still think we have to have a balanced attack we have to run and we are basically going to take what the defense gives us with the offence we are running this year Jason can take a look at the defence and see how they are set up and whatever they give us that’s what we are going to take,” said Asselin.

With Asselin already banged up the offence will be short staffed as receivers Andre Landry and Dave Wilson likely will not make the trip to Sarnia and injury may force slotback Danny Gosselin to miss the opener as well.

With the Sudbury Spartans out of the league, the schedule change means the Bulldogs will now play their home opener on June 9th against the Sault Ste. Marie Steelers. That game will take place at West Ferris field starting at 5 p.m.