Motivated Marauders ready to compete
Ten months removed from winning its fourth Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations bowl in school history, the A.N. Myer Marauders head into the season as the ninth-ranked senior football team in Canada.
“We have good group of kids who are pretty motivated and a 12B group that is back. Most of our line is back which is a big deal for us,” Myer head coach Dave Buchanan said. “If we stay healthy, then we should be able to compete.”
The team’s motivation is intrinsic.
“They made it to a bowl game two years ago, won a bowl game last year and they intrinsically want to do well. There’s also an underlying comparison with the core group that came through, not from a coaching staff perspective, but it is internal,” he said.
Buchanan feels the team is similar but different than the 2023 squad.
“You lose some key pieces but then there’s some other kids who step up and surprise you. From a team perspective, what we bring to the table will be some physicality. Our skillset is solid and Noah Walters is now the guy at the reins. He is ready to explode and is an immense talent.”
Walters replaces incumbent quarterback Thomas Somerville.
“Tom was a great quarterback for us last year but he had more of a running style at the end of the day. That was great but Noah presents a passing style to complement the running game.”
Buchanan says reviews were mixed whether or not it was good for Walters to spend a year as backup last season.
“I think it depends who you ask. For him and the people surrounding him it was probably frustrating but I think it was the right decision for him because he got to play other positions and got to be a football player. He was given an opportunity to come in (at quarterback) once in awhile in big moments and it allowed him to grow,” he said. “I do believe the quarterback position is one that should not necessarily be rushed and he has lots of time to get better. He probably wanted to play last year and that’s OK. He is supposed to want to play.”
Buchanan believes Walters’ special traits are arm talent, athleticism and a quiet competitive nature that reminds him of former Myer star Tre Ford.
“Tre would never get overly excited but he hated losing and so does Noah. That pushes him internally and he is not a kid that you have to get on very much in order to get him to perform. He will push himself.”
The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Walters is looking forward to playing quarterback. Last season, in addition to serving as backup quarterback, he played safety, corner and on kick return teams.
“It’s awesome,” the 17-year-old said. “Last year Thomas beat me out and he was definitely better. He is a good quarterback but I worked hard all off-season and I am ready for my turn now.”
He agrees it was tough not to earn the starting role last season.
“It was difficult because I am not going to lie. I have been a pretty athletic kid my whole life and I don’t normally get told that I am not playing. It was rough for me at first but that is the way university is going to be like. I won’t probably start my first year.”
Walters feels the biggest difference in himself at quarterback is having more reps at the role, including trying out for Team Ontario and playing in the minor football spring league.
He describes himself as a pocket passer with a few tricks up his sleeve.
“This year I am hoping to make the right reads. My overall goal for the season is to win OFSAA.”
His lessons learned playing safety will help him at quarterback.
“A lot of my reads now have me looking at the safety to change where he is going to go. There’s a lot of look-offs that are going to happen because when I was playing safety, I was looking at the quarterback’s eyes.”
He can’t wait to get the regular season started.
“I’m looking forward to scoring touchdowns and finally getting in there to throw. I am super excited about that. I just want to play.”
Somerville has transitioned into a wide receiver for the Marauders and Buchanan expects big things from him.
“He was told last year when he decided to come back that he was going to do that and he was fine with it. He is such a team guy and he will also return and play some safety for us.”
Somerville also gives Myer an excellent backup quarterback.
“We know we are very lucky. We asked a kid who just won a bowl to step aside and give another boy an opportunity and he was gracious and unbelievable. That just tells you what kind of kid he is.”
At running back, Myer will be relying on the tandem of returnee Aaron Falconer and junior graduate Marco Angelini. Dylan Devries is an important player at defensive back and receiver.
Key returnees to the offensive and defensives lines — called The Herd — are Cade Ivanchuck, Thomas Alexander, McRory Grant and Deniz Gungor.
Standouts on the defence are expected Fran Dalla Valentina (linebacker), Nathan Carter (a linebacker who has transferred in from Saint Michael), Travis Boland (outside linebacker, halfback) and Deniz Duzgun (defensive end/halfback).
“I could name everybody,” Buchanan said. “We have a lot of good players.”