FCC2018 PREVIEW: QUEBEC

In 2017, Quebec fought hard to win the gold medal in Wolfville.  It almost seemed as though Saskatchewan was going to pull off a huge upset in the final minute of the game.

However, Jashiah Lewis-Pennicooke scored a touchdown with 19.2 remaining to give Quebec a 10-7 win in a tight defensive battle.

Coming into 2018, Quebec knows and understands that each game will be a battle just like it was last year and are prepared for the challenge that awaits them in the tournament.

“We always try to come in with a team that competes hard,” Iadeluca said.  “We always want to try to play our brand of football and compete every second of every game.”

“We had games that always went down to the wire last year and that is what we try to preach to our kids – to play hard for 48 minutes and good things should happen.”

For Quebec, there is one goal they want to achieve at the 2018 Football Canada Cup.

“We want to go out there and compete and play hard for 48 minutes,” explained Iadeluca.  “The thing we tell our kids every year is to enjoy the experience.”

“We want them to have a good time and enjoy the moment and play hard.”

Iadeluca describes this year’s team as enthusiastic as they play hard and the players enjoy being together while playing on the field.

“I think every quarterback is different,” he described.  “We’re finalizing our camp here so it will be interesting to see who comes out of it.”

“Our quarterbacks are different.  It’s just how it is in football, everybody has their strengths and a little bit of their weaknesses so we try to work on those depending on who is in the game.”

Offensively, Iadeluca said that it will be a more balanced unit from last year’s squad.

“That’s the beauty of this group,” he added.  “I think we can run the football and also throw it.”

“It’s a pretty well-rounded offence and I think we will be more diverse than in the past.”

Quarterback Xavier Tremblay is one to watch for on offence as Iadeluca said he is very athletic and he can throw the football.  He will have a strong core of receivers as options at his dispense throughout the tournament and Iadeluca offers that this is one of the best groups he has ever seen since he has coached the provincial team. Quebec’s running backs are versatile in 2018.

Moreover, Quebec will rely on the experience and leadership of four returning players on the defensive line who played pivotal roles in the gold medal win last year in Wolfville. On the secondary, the team boasts some dynamic players who Iadeluca is counting on to make an immediate impact.

Quebec begins their gold medal defence on Monday July 16, 2018 when they battle New Brunswick at 4:00pm MST.

“We know very little about them,” said Iadeluca of New Brunswick.  “We go into the tournament every year focusing on our football team.”

“We tell our kids that going into our first game is a little bit blinds anyway so we try to execute on all three sides of the ball. If we take care of our business, then we don’t mind who is on the other side of us.  We don’t try to prepare for the team per say, we try to get ready as well as we can on our side.”

TEAM QUEBEC:

2017 RESULT: defeated Saskatchewan 10-7 to win gold medal and finish 1^st in tournament

HEAD COACH: Marco Iadeluca – third year, was also Defensive Coordinator in 2006.

NUMBER OF PLAYERS RETURNING: 6

PLAYERS TO WATCH: 

This post is also available in: French