The 2011 provincial varsity football champions are set to defend their title this afternoon as the Mount Douglas Rams play host to St. Thomas More.
"We're into conference play, these are the games that count and we're opening against a tough team, with tons of weapons on offence," said Rams head coach Mark Townsend. "This represents a huge challenge for us."
In more ways than one. The Rams will be without a few key players as the injury bug has taken its toll early this season, including runningback Mason Swift who is questionable for the league and home-opener.
"The positive is it allows some younger players to receive some significant playing time," said Townsend.
He received just such a performance in Mount Doug's last pre-season game, a thrilling 44-40 victory over Terry Fox.
"Down 40-37 and fourth down on their three yard line with 12 seconds to go, we could have kicked to tie, but we wanted to go for the win," said Townsend. "Ashton [MacKinnon] had the composure to find Ross Faulkner for the win."
Faulkner, who joined the seniors off the junior varsity team, managed to haul in two touchdown passes in that outing.
MacKinnon - the Rams' impressive six-foot-six, 200-pound starting quarterback - was lights out, throwing for five major scores, while completing 20 of 27 passes for 246 yards.
Marcus Davis had an outstanding performance as well with 312 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns.
The Rams also had a close outing Sept. 7 against Island rivals, John Barsby, in a 40-36 win with Davis scampering 70 yards for the winning score with four minutes remaining.
"In both situations I was very pleased with the fortitude and resilience they showed to come back and win," said Townsend. "Ashton is playing terrific football right now."
The junior varsity team starts at 2: 30 p.m. at Royal Athletic Park, with the seniors to follow at 5 p.m. and the team is asking its fans to wear all black for Blackout Friday.
Across town, the Belmont Bulldogs will entertain the Eric Hamber Griffins of Vancouver in a 2 p.m. kickoff at Goudy Field.
The Bulldogs will give away free hot dogs to all Sooke School District students who attend.
