Source: Elisa Mitton, Windsor Sports Info / Photo credit Edwin Tam
2013 regular season record: 4-4
2013 regular season standings: 6th in OUA
2013 playoff record: 0-1
2013 playoff finish: 31-21 loss to Guelph in
quarter-finals
The Lancers are coming off a 2013 season that saw them earn their third straight OUA playoff appearance. Windsor finished the year with a 4-4 record in a very competitive OUA conference, earning wins over Waterloo, Toronto, Carleton, and Wilfrid Laurier. In the post season, Windsor travelled to Guelph where they fell 31-21 to the No. 5 ranked Gryphons.
With 21 of 24 starters returning for 2014, the Lancers will look to make it past the first round of the post season for the first time since 2011. Offensively, quarterback Austin Kennedy and the Lancers will look to move the ball in the air, with a strong receiving core that includes OUA all-star Evan Pszczonak and fifth year senior Dylan Whitfield. Both will look to build on strong 2013 campaigns that saw them combine for 859 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.
The Lancer offense also includes 2014 East-West Bowl participant running back Nathan O’Hollaran who, together with a strong committee of running backs, will look to fill the void left by Mitch Dender, along with offensive lineman Randy Beardy and Brett Boersma, and receivers Scott McEwan and Kyle Tyo.
Defensively, the Lancers will depend heavily on a strong core of veterans anchored by fifth years Tai Pham, Stephon Miller, and Josh Burns, third year linebacker Frank Renaud, and defensive backs Austin Crumb and Jordan Deneau.
Once again this year, head coach Joe D’Amore brought in a solid recruiting class that included a number of players from the local Windsor-Essex area. Combined with the return of a strong mix of veterans the Lancers enter the 2014 season with a sense of optimism and excitement.
Quote from head coach:
"This year our expectations are high. We have Austin Kennedy returning for his final year and we bring back all but three starters from last season’s team. Although we have been a playoff team for three straight years now, we have not made it past the first round since 2011. Our goals this season is to host a playoff game on Alumni Field, which has not been done since 2006, and make it to the Yates Cup. We have the talent and veteran team to do it. We have some new comers who are going to contribute immediately and if we can get out of the gate strong, we will be in the position to have a great season. "
Head Coach:
- Number of seasons as head coach with team (including 2014):
4
- Number of seasons as head coach in CIS (including 2014): 4
- Career regular season record with team: 12-12
- Career regular season record in CIS: 12-12
- Career overall record with team (reg. season & playoffs
only): 13-15
- Career overall record in CIS (reg. season & playoffs only):
13-15
OFFENCE
Number of returning starters: 10
Key returning players:
QB Austin Kennedy enters his fifth and final season with the Blue & Gold. The two time OUA all-star (2011 & 2012) currently holds four Lancer passing records including most touchdown passes in a single game. In 2013, the Windsor, Ontario native threw for 1,920 yards and 17 touchdowns in eight regular season games.
WR Evan Pszczonak is also in his fifth year of eligibility with the Lancers. In 2013, stepped up his game to become the Lancers top receiver, and grabbed 42 receptions for 646 yards (92.3 yards per game), and six touchdowns over seven regular season games, en route to being named an OUA first team all-star for the first time in his career.
WR Dylan Whitfield has been a consistent presence on the Lancer offense for the past five seasons. In 2013, he finished third in receiving with 213 yards and three touchdowns on 18 receptions.
LB Nathan O’Hollaran was named the Lancer Team MVP in 2013. The Pickering, Ontario native played in a variety of roles for the Blue & Gold and picked up 163 all-purpose yards in eight regular season games played.
Key recruits or transfers:
RB Terrance Crawford (Windsor, ON) – third year transfer from Simon Fraser University
WR Noah Akharoh (Brampton, ON) – 6’3, 13lbs from Notre Dame High School
OL Devin Desjardins (Windsor, ON) – 6’1, 275lbs from Herman Secondary School and OVFL’s Essex Ravens
OL Lucas Moore (Belle River, ON) – 6’3, 270lbs from Belle River High School and OVFL’s Essex Ravens
Key losses: RB Mitch Dender, OL Nick Corrado
DEFENCE
Number of returning starters: 11
Key returning players:
DL Tai Pham was a second team OUA all-star in 2013 leading the Blue & Gold with 7.5 total sacks. The London, Ontario native also participated in the 2014 East-West Bowl this past summer.
LB Frank Renaud finished the 2013 season second in team defense with 52 total tackles (43 solo, 18 assisted).
DB Josh Burns averaged 2.8 tackles per game in 2013 finishing the season with 11 total tackles in four games played.
DL Stephon Miller finished the 2013 season fourth in team defense with 31 total tackles and six sacks.
Key recruits or transfers:
LB Joe Iatzko (Windsor, ON) – third year transfer from Simon Fraser
LB Rik Van Espen (LaSalle, ON) – 6’1, 215lbs from Sandwich Secondary School & OVFL’s Essex Ravens
DL Courtney Ellis (Hamilton, ON) – 6’1, 240lbs from St. Thomas Moore Secondary School & OFC’s Hamilton Hurricanes.
DL Nick Simone (LaSalle, ON) – 6’2, 260lbs from Villanova Secondary School & OVFL’s Essex Ravens
Key losses: DL Taras Potopilnyj, DB Akeem Whonder
SPECIAL TEAMS
Key recruits or transfers:
K Hugh Paulin – 6’0 175lbs from Vincent Massey Secondary School & OVFL’s Essex Ravens
Key losses: K Dan Cerino