Intense effort

Stars need to be more focused in EFL opener

	Lake City Stars running back Heath Geiser (21) carries the ball during the Stars preseason game against the Vermont Ice Storm on July 2.
Lake City opens its Empire Football League schedule tonight with a game against the Montreal Titans at Billings Field in Montreal at 7:30 p.m

PLATTSBURGH — The Lake City Stars have had a week to address the issues that cost them a 26-6 preseason contest against the Vermont Ice Storm.

According to head coach Ed McCallister, intensity will be the key to the Stars opening Empire Football League game tonight against the Montreal Titans.

"We really need to pick up our intensity," McCallister said. "That is something that really stood out last week. We just didn’t have it. "We need to improve on special team, too."

The Stars were within striking distance as they evened the score at six against the Ice Storm, but the special teams allowed too much yardage on kickoff returns by Troy Canada, which set up the go-ahead score and put the game out of reach.

The Titans head into tonight’s game without playing a preseason contest, but McCallister isn’t expecting that to be an advantage for the Stars.

"It’s nice to have a game under your belt," McCallister said. "But they have had a team now for two years and I expect them to have quite a few players; they have a large area to draw from up there. They always come out and play well, especially when they are at home."

Sean Hoas will again lead the Titans offense after a year layoff. Hoas will also have his brother in the receiving corps, Tyler Hoas, as well as Geoff Brown, Treldon James, Zawdie Parahoo, Neville Johnson, Marvin Joseph, Sean Kennedy and Dwight Henry.

"(Sean) Hoas is a player," McCallister said. "He can definitely air it out and should have some quick receivers who can cover the field.

"This could be an extremely tough game up there."

Montreal, however, could be without starting running back J.P. Davilmar who has been out with a torn hamstring. Whendy Menard and Ricardo Moreau will look to handle the running duties, if Davilmar is unable to go.

One of the areas that the Stars were successful against the Ice Storm a week ago was in running the football. Heath Geiser rushed for 97 yards on just 16 carries and Vern Harrison tallied 36 yards on five carries.

"We have had more players join the team over the past week," McCallister said. "So we should dress a good number of players.

"It has been a long week. Anytime a team that has become your rival gets the best of you, that is usually what happens. Hopefully, tonight, we will be more intense."

The game gets under way at 7:30 p.m. at Billings Field in Montreal.

Take Route 22 to the Mooers border from Plattsburgh. After you cross you are on Hemmingford Road which becomes Route-219. Follow this road to the center of the town of Hemmingford. Follow 219 for about 3.5 miles and then turn left on Route-205 and follow for about 18 miles. This will become Route-138.

Continue for about 7 1/2 miles until Boulevard. D'Anjou. Go left and follow D'Anjou about a half mile. Continue on this road and you will see a Kentucky Fried Chicken on the right. Turn on that street, it is Tremblay. Go straight and you will run into the field.

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