A self-proclaimed bend-but-don’t-break defence suddenly is a lot less flexible.
The Holy Trinity Academy Knights stiffened their already rigid defence as linebacker Michael Peloso returned to the lineup in their 42-7 win over the Strathmore Spartans on Thursday at HTA.
“It’s been a long 13 weeks, I broke my wrist at the U18 Canada Cup in Kingston,” the Grade 11 Peloso said. “It felt good tonight, there’s a little bit of a learning curve but it’s good to be back at it.”
Peloso was a spectator for the Knights as they ripped off five straight victories before his return.
“I went to practices and tried to learn as much as I can, getting bigger, stronger faster, working in the gym,” Peloso said. “It takes something to come back as a better player after an injury and I think I am — I’m way faster.”
It was Peloso’s first game with the Knights since their loss to the Lloydminster Barons in the Tier II provincial final last year.
The return of Peloso means the Knights have a pair of Team Alberta linebackers in Peloso and Jack Dutton.
As well, Knights coach Matt Hassett, who doubles as the team’s defensive co-ordinator, can move his defensive players around like the legendary late Bobby Fischer moving chess pieces to destroy his opponent.
“It’s huge,” Hassett said. “It solidifies our defence. We can move someone else in a different place. It just makes us better.
“We did well without Michael, but it just gives us that added dimension at linebacker that makes the defence pretty tough.”
Knight Alex Leggett has played middle linebacker for the Knights' first five games but may see some action at defensive end, where he played last year — and where his future is.
Leggett said the defence just got stronger.
“Our defence has been solid all year and we got Peloso back which will just be an add on,” Leggett said. “We are faster and stronger than we were last year.”
He said the strength of the D is preventing the run and forcing the other team to pass.
It could get a whole lot harder to pass on the Knights if Leggett is bringing his Charleston-Hughes like pressure from defensive end on opposition QBs.
And just like Hughes, Leggett is ending up in Canada’s breadbasket.
Leggett has made a verbal commitment to the University of Saskatchewan Huskies, where his older brother Jonathan is currently a nose tackle.
Peloso, who played on last year’s provincial finalist team, is pleased with what he’s seen of the Knights’ D.
“We’re as good as last year,” he said. “Peloso said. “Up front were not as big, but our secondary and skill positions are better I think than last year.
“More experienced.”
Now Peloso, who should see some action at slotback as well, wants to make sure his already short season, goes on as long as possible.
“Hopefully we can go all the way and take the ‘W’ at provincials,” he said.
They started paving the way to provincials by clinching the Big Rock Conference regular season title against Strathmore on Thursday at HTA. The 42-7 victory improved the no. 1 ranked Knights to 6-0.
The Knights jumped out to a 7-0 lead on a TD run by Jack Gutek in the first quarter.
They would double their lead early in the second quarter when Noah Gutek took a Strathmore punt and took it up the middle and then cut to the outside for a 57-yard TD run.
HTA would go into the locker room at half-time with a 21-0 lead on a perfectly thrown pass from QB Ben Leggett to the streaking Jayden Fleck for the major.
Grade 10 runningback Gabriel Marquardt put HTA up 28-0 early in the third quarter when, after going through a huge hole created by the offensive line, he bulldozed over a would-be Spartan tackler for a 13-yard touchdown.
Noah Gutek would add to the Knights lead Ben Leggett feathered a pass to him for a 43-yard one-play drive major to make it 35-0.
He would add another TD in the final quarter before Strathmore scored on a quarterback sneak to make the final 42-7.
The Knights begin their playoff run when they take on the Rundle Cobras in the Big Rock Conference semifinal Friday at HTA.
The time will be announced later.
