The Nanaimo Redmen wish they actually had a harder schedule this season. Not every team in the Vancouver Mainland Football League’s midget division will be able to pose a significant challenge for the red team.
But Week 1 is a dandy.
The Redmen kick off 2011 on Monday (Sept. 5) with a game in the Fraser Valley against the Langley Stampeders.
The Stamps went 10-0 last year before being bounced from the playoffs by the eventual-champion Victoria Spartans.
Nanaimo coach Sean Roden said he doesn’t know much about this year’s Langley team, but doesn’t expect the Stamps to know much about the Redmen, either.
“We go into games and we primarily focus on what we do best,” he said. “On offence, defence and special teams we try to execute what we do and force them into adjustments.”
The Redmen said they expect the Stampeders to have a strong run game and they especially want to defend well against the sweep play.
Being mentally sharp will be important.
“Langley’s always been a really good team so when we play them we’ve just got to bring 100 per cent and hopefully come out there and play our best,” said Mike Haverstock, Redmen veteran.
GRID BITS … A season preview of the Redmen appeared in Thursday’s News Bulletin and can be accessed here … Football Nanaimo is still accepting registration for any players ages 9-17 wishing to play fall tackle football. For more information, please visit www.footballnanaimo.com.
sports@nanaimobulletin.com