Alexis Sanschagrin looks at today鈥檚 pre-season game at 1 p.m. against visiting Seattle Prep school of Washington as a chance to show off the Belmont Bulldogs鈥� first-class facilities and program.
The two teams will line up at Westhills Stadium in preparation for their respective regular seasons.
鈥淲e鈥檙e pretty excited. It鈥檚 a chance to host and let them see our amazing facilities here and it鈥檚 a chance to play American competition, which is always exciting,鈥� said Sanschagrin, the Bulldogs head coach.
鈥淲e鈥檙e expecting a very good season. We understand that we are competing against the best of the best in the province and every week is going to be a dogfight, but we feel good about ourselves. It should be an up year for Belmont.鈥�
And fans will take notice of Bulldogs offensive and defensive lineman Dontae Bull, a six-foot-seven and one-half, 285-pounder, who has already garnered offers from NCAA Division schools, University of North Dakota and University of Maine.
鈥淗e鈥檚 an amazing athlete. He鈥檚 got size, but he also can move for his size. He played basketball during the off-season and that鈥檚 improved his foot speed and fitness,鈥� said Sanschagrin. 鈥淭he combination of size and skill that he brings, I believe, will get even more teams interested after this season.
鈥淔or us he will be a force to be reckoned with on both sides of the ball.鈥�
Bull attended a Recruit Ready Football camp in Winnipeg in May where North Dakota requested his presence after he had shipped out film of his work to 40 Division I schools. He also talked to Maine, but will take the year to see if other offers flow in and to improve that much further.
鈥淚鈥檓 really excited for this season. It鈥檚 a big come-up year for us. Last year was a bit of a letdown. We knew it was a building year so we have to make the best of what we have now,鈥� said the senior. 鈥淲e鈥檙e coming from the same team that beat Mount Doug in Grade 10 [in junior], so we鈥檙e looking to do it again.鈥�
Sanschagrin also has Darian Jules at quarterback and has moved Brett Milligan from receiver to running back.
鈥淲e鈥檙e excited for him to have a good senior year,鈥� Sanschagrin said of Jules. 鈥淲e鈥檝e got good athletes that can catch the ball and we should be able to give him good protection.
鈥淲e have probably our most explosive athlete at running back,鈥� he added of Milligan, asix-foot, 200-pounder who was a conference all-star at receiver last year. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a position where you usually touch the ball most often so we wanted to get someone there who can make something happen.鈥�
Sanschagrin has also attracted three players from out-of-province who wanted to join the Bulldogs for 2016. The Langford-based team has ventured south of the border before, but it鈥檚 believed this is the first time an American school has visited northward for the Bulldogs.
鈥淚t鈥檚 great to head south and have the kids experience the Friday Night Lights experience, but having the chance to have some exposure here, with the facilities and the team, is going to be a fun experience,鈥� said Sanschagrin, whose team will also face Lord Tweedsmuir away and then play host to Ballenas on a Friday night in preseason.
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