If they’re all playing and on their game, the Howe Sound Hitmen are confident they can beat anybody on the gridiron.
The standings for the GSL North Shore Football League have them in third, with the undefeated Lions leading in top spot.
Howe Sound has beaten the leaders twice in exhibition play.
However, the Squamish team’s ranks have been depleted through regular season play due to injury, such as receiver Tyler Guss, who was to be the team’s deep threat on offence.
As well, the team apparently lost the opportunity for a couple of local players to join up due to league technicalities.
As a result, the team has added some players from North Vancouver in addition to one from Whistler.
Many weeks, the team has fielded the bare 11, playing dual positions, against the competition, but coach Troy Wilton is confident that if the team shows up and is focused it can still beat anyone come playoff time.
“Honestly, we play with 11 kids every game,” he says. “I try to use all my timeouts just to let them catch their breath.”
Meshing the Squamish and North Vancouver kids took some time, Wilton says, but it did happen around the fourth week of the season.
He also credits sponsors with stepping forward to help the team with costs such as equipment.
“We own all our own equipment, our jerseys,” he said.
Wilton is also proud of how his captains, whom he has coached for four years, have stepped up during the season.
They have all had their highlight moments. Captain Kolby Wilton recalls stiff-arming a couple of tacklers on one play and was able to run the ball in for a 25-yard touchdown.
“I like stiff-arming people,” he says.
More often, he picks up the short yards.
“Kolby’s just a little tank. We throw him in when we need five yards,” says coach Wilton.
On a blitz on third down, defensive captain Kaden Nicholls broke through the offensive line and forced a 20-yard loss. He can also throw pretty much any opponent around on the field. The coach calls him “a beast” on defence.
Special teams captain Josh “Frogger” Dela Cerna recalls having to go back for a kick even though he wanted to line up further upfield but he ended up with the ball and was able to run back for a touchdown.
“Frogger’s got really good hands. From last year to this, he’s just a different player,” Wilton says.
On offence, Reniel Belandres at quarterback has led the way, finding receivers and rushing for TDs. The coach also raves about his depth perception.
Even on defence, he has been a factor and says a favourite game was when he ran back two interceptions for TDs.
Wilton thinks his quarterback is clearly the league MVP for the season.
“Rennie’s just the whole package,” he says. “He’s like a franchise player.”
On the weekend, the Hitmen faced the Vikings to close out their regular season and came away with a 35-13 win. Belandres had four touchdowns and Everett Chase had one. Kolby Wilton and Jack Harris added two conversions and Dela Cerna had one.
This weekend, the Hitmen will face the second-place Westside Warriors in the opening round of the playoffs.
