Hope springs eternal for the Estevan Comprehensive School Elecs this week when they begin their third regular season in the Moose Jaw High School Football League.
But the Elecs will visit the Swift Current Colts on Thursday without running back Nick Flegel, who broke his fibula and tibia during a scrimmage on Friday.
Head coach Marco Ricci had high hopes for Flegel, a Grade 12 student whose high school career is now over.
"We had a star who was going to be really good," Ricci said. "Unfortunately, not only do we lose a good football man but he had (gained by) leaps and bounds in terms of self-development. We made him a captain and he was becoming a real leader off the field. It's a huge blow for us."
It's now back to square one for the Elecs in trying to develop a threat on the ground. Ricci said the job will be done by committee.
First-year quarterback Kolby Fleury will command the offence.
Ricci said new offensive co-ordinator Randy Labrecque has the players focusing on running a smaller playbook more efficiently.
"It's quite a bit different. Obviously there was a lot more motion with Andrew's offence," Ricci said. "It's made it a quicker transition to learn, if anything. It will be exciting football."
On the defensive side, a raw group of linebackers is stepping in but Ricci hopes a strong defensive line will help them to make the adjustment.
He expects the final roster to settle at about 40 players. Half of those are returnees from last year.
While there are some players hitting the gridiron for the first time, the group graduating from the bantam Steelers shows promise, Ricci said.
"They just have that skill development that we were fortunate we didn't have to teach. With the guys we have coming up from Steelers, it's a pretty athletic group."
He added that the decision by minor football and the Elecs to teach the same systems is paying dividends now.
Getting the players' conditioning up to snuff is an ongoing battle, but the Elecs have hired a strength and conditioning coach to their arsenal this year.
Ricci said the Kraft Celebration Tour was a bit of a distraction during training camp, but it also provided for some team bonding.
"We thought it was all very positive and a chance for our team to understand how powerful our community is and the great things they do."
The Colts look like a formidable foe, returning most of their 2010 squad. They defeated a Regina team 49-7 in exhibition play on Friday.
"They'll be very tough," Ricci said. "We'll have our work cut out for us."
