U16 Sault Sabercats host Clarington Knights in OSFL football action

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The Sault Sabercats junior varsity squad entertains the Clarington U16 Knights in Ontario Summer Football League action on Saturday afternoon.

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The junior ‘Cats (2-0) are in a tie for top spot in the U16 AA eastern division loop with four other teams. The Knights are not one of the four teams undefeated through two weeks allowing 65 points while scoring seven in two games played.

Nonetheless, Sabercats co-head coach Will Basawa is giving the opponent the respect they rightly deserve.

“They are a gritty football team and I have always appreciated that about them,” Basawa said.

Kick-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. at Superior Heights.

Based on his performance last Saturday against the Durham Dolphins, ‘Cats offensive dynamo Adam Hasane is someone who should draw eyes his way come game time.

In his second game as a member of the JV club, the Grade 10 student at White Pines had a productive day in a 41-6 victory over the Dolphins.

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“Our local track star turned football player went off for 140 yards on the ground and three touchdowns,” Basawa said. “It is always nice when you get to see a young player, not only succeed, but succeed in a big way.”

Basawa is also the head coach of the Wolverines.

Hasane picked up football last season and Basawa sees good things ahead for the15-year-old as he is developing an affinity for a game that isn’t quite second nature just yet.

“I think he is starting to love football, which is great to see,” Basawa said. “Some boys like football but they don’t always love it and I think, now that he has had a little more time to acclimatize, he is starting to fall in love with the game.”

Basawa called Hasane a “blur,” in action, saying he is not quite Nathan Guizzetti but “has similar speed.”

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“He does have top-end speed but his ability to change direction and keep that speed up is unique as only a few boys have that ability,” Basawa said. “The biggest thing for him is learning to catch the football, which is a bit of a low point for him, but he is getting better. We are excited to see that progression.”

Guizzetti is the feature back for the varsity Sabercats and recently attended the Ontario Red-Black camp back in early May, the current Korah Colts starting running back hoping to catch on with the provincial squad for inter-provincial competition this summer.

Hasane was not at practice on Thursday as he was representing the Wolverines at the NOSSA track championship in North Bay.

Third time a charm

For the third consecutive week, Alex Hayes will get nod at quarterback, as Basawa confirmed at practice on Thursday evening.

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“Hayes is going to start on Saturday, but we hope to see a lot of Zayn Murdoch,” Basawa said.

There was a competition for the starting QB role between Hayes and Murdoch, but Hayes continues to impress Basawa.

“Hayes is breaking bad habits, which is great to see in a young quarterback and getting more comfortable with his rhythm and timing,” Basawa said. “The next big thing for him is to understand football to a higher level.”

A little bit ‘o nasty

One highlight in the win last week was the performance of the offensive line.

“The ground game got a pickup as J.J. Perreault was running hard for us, and the offensive line is starting to figure our system out,” Basawa said. “(The l0-line) is starting to look a lot better.”

In the season opener, a 16-8 win over the Sudbury Spartans, the Sabercats had difficulty moving the ball in the second half and that showed on the scoreboard as the locals scored all of its points in the first 24 minutes.

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After the eight-point win over the Spartans Basawa politely noted his o-line needed to raise its level of play to match the increase in OSFL talent over and above local ball.

“This is not like Sault minor football where you just block the guy in front of you,” Basawa said at the time. “(Understanding the concepts) comes with maturity and time.”

Apparently, one week was akin to a lifetime of learning.

“They are starting to understand they are the big boys on the team,” Basawa said, saying the line is developing “a little bit of nasty.” “To coin a phrase: they are the electric company. The power doesn’t go on without them. They stepped up a lot.”

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