Saturday, May 21, 2005
Titans attract 30 players to spring camp
  | |
| Geoff Brown holds ball for field-goal kicker Andrew Blevings (35) in last game the Titans played, a 61-26 romp over the Crystal City Dragons last September.(Photo archives) | |
Titans attract 30 players to spring camp
Dan Rosenburg
The Montreal Titans drew 30 players to their annual spring semi-pro football camp at their new home at Billings last weekend, and head coach John Mouland was encouraged by the turnout. A total of 42 ball players have signed on for the coming season.
The Titans, who are now part of the Empire Football League which entails shorter road trips, start their 10-game schedule at home July 9 against Plattsburgh's Lake City Stars.
The Titans were previously forced to play in the New York Amateur Football League because the Montreal Condors (now the Ottawa Deacon Demons) had squatters' rights. The Ottawa team, coached by Wilbert Scott, travels here for a date with the Titans on Aug. 6. All home games are set for Saturday nights at 7:30 p.m. under the brand new lights at Billings.
Several familiar names will be returning to the Titans, following two winning campaigns in the NYAFL circuit. Wide receiver Tyrel Hoas is back after a one-year hiatus and quarterback Kevin Wyeth returns after a season in which he was beset by injuries. Fullback Andrew Blevings, running mate J. P. Davilmar, wide receivers Steve Crompton, Marvin Joseph and Zawdie Parahoo, lineman Darryl Snow, safeties Jean Lerouge and Stuart Wolfe, and defensive backs Corvell and Lorne Isaacs are also no strangers.
Other returnees include Marc-André Guay and Max Labossiere. Listed on the team's website as being on the roster but still unsigned are rookies Michael Coles and Andrew MacDonald, and veterans Scott Cowick, Treldon James and Dave Spence., Several high-profile newcomers from such varied clubs as the Sudbury Spartans, Valleyfield Phalanges, North Shore Broncos, Joliette Blitz, Greenfield Park and the Metro Seniors were at the spring camp.
Quarterback Sean Hoas, who is also the offensive co-ordinator, was attending a wedding in Gatineau and was forced to miss the camp. So too did receivers coach and wide receiver Geoff Brown, who had business commitments in Texas.
Other teams in the Empire League are the Broome County Dragons, Scranton Eagles (here July 23), St. Lawrence Trailblazers, Watertown Red & Black, Amsterdam Zephyrs (here Aug. 20), Albany Metro Maullers; Orange County Bulldogs, and Green Mountain Gladiators (here Sept. 24).
Playoffs begin Oct. 1 with the championship game slated for Oct. 15.
The last game the Titans ever played in the NYAFL was a 61-26 winning effort over the Crystal City Dragons last September. The Titans defaulted their semi-final playoff game against the Monroe County Sting because of a referee shortage.
The Titans raised $2,200 for the Montreal Children's Hospital at a fund-raising karaoke event in Montreal the night before spring camp began.
