The Nanaimo District Islanders football team is in rebuilding mode. But luckily, in Tier 2 varsity, that doesn’t mean the Isles are going to be overmatched this year.

B.C. High School Football’s new Tier 2 division is suited to teams like NDSS that don’t have a lot of depth. With only 20 players this year, new coach Gavin Lake said the Islanders realistically would only be a bottom-third team in AA varsity. In Tier 2, they’re contenders.

“If we can develop, I like to think that we can compete at the top and be around come playoff time,” said Lake.

For the NDSS Islanders to restock their roster and perhaps return to AA varsity, it’s important to instill a winning attitude, the coach said.

“Young guys have got to feel success. If all it is is beatdowns and practice, football’s not very fun,” Lake said. “If we have fun on game day and win some football games, that’s a great recruiting tool.”

The Isles’ first chance at a win comes this Friday (Sept. 18) when the Gulf Islands Scorpions visit NDSS field.

The matchup is one of the Islanders’ most important games, as the Scorpions are expected to be one of the division’s better teams.

To compete, NDSS will try to pound the football – the Islanders’ program has traditionally sworn by the run game and this season won’t be any different. The new coach Lake has scrapped Nanaimo District’s double-wing offence, but not its hard-running attitude.

“Because we’ve installed a new playbook this year, we have to get over some mental hurdles with that,” he said. “The easiest way to do that is with the run game.”

Carrying the ball this year will be football-savvy Dustin Kothlow and big but agile Kai Wohlleben. Wingback Cole McIvor will also be featured, both as a rusher and receiver.

Under centre will be quarterbacks Johan Lindstrom and Taylor Mcleod. They’ll mostly hand the ball off, but will occasionally tuck the football and run or try to complete passes to a receiving corps featuring Will Nutter-Wotten, Spencer Brydon, Kyle Corfield and Adam Ali.

The offensive line, led by centre Will McKechnie, also includes Nathan Pranke.

The Isles’ defence is designed to stop the run, with a lot of bodies stacking the box.

The defensive line will feature Jeremy Hall, Devon Carli and Brandon Batista inside and Job Warminal and Vladis Tsybikov on the ends.

The linebacking corps will rely heavily on key ironman Wohlleben and Ty Harrop-MacNeil will also have to make tackles.

The defensive backfield includes McIvor, Mcleod, Corfield and Chris Reid.

GAME ON … The Isles and Scorpions play Friday (Sept. 18) at 1:45 p.m. at NDSS field.

sports@nanaimobulletin.com