What a way to graduate from your Grade 9 football career: playing in the Football Alberta Bantam Bowl at Edmonton's Foote Field Monday.
That's just what four St. Albert 49ers did: quarterback Brendan Guy, slotback Corbin Stewart, offensive lineman Zach Dreger and defensive back Arjun Basahti all played as Northern Alberta bantam all-stars over the Victoria Day weekend, won by the south 19-8.
Selected earlier this year for their high skill level by Football Alberta to play on the elite team, the four went with their 49ers head coach Randy Guy, who also made the all-star team as offensive coordinator.
The 49ers aerial attack this past year was legendary: Randy said the bantam team passed for over 2,000 yards this season and won the Tier III division.
Randy said all-star games such as this are a great way to prepare the boys for their high school football careers. "They're a great experience for the kids," he said Monday after the game. The coach said it's the first time the four boys were at an all-star game, and spent four days with all of the north and south players, including a banquet and other activities.
He noted the 49ers players competed against some of these other boys, and they will surely be bumping into some of them again in high school.
One thing Randy said he liked to see was the diversity of the north and south all-star teams, kids coming from lots of different communities. He said sometimes all-star teams have 20 or more kids from the same city; not this year. He said the team was quite diverse, including players from Stony Plain, Grande Prairie, Peace River, Sexsmith, Olds, Okotoks, Claresholm and Strathmore, just to name a few.
He said coaching in the all-star game was a treat. "It was a great experience," he noted. "These kids are obviously the stars of their individual teams. It was fun to coach a team with that much talent."
Quarterback
Randy said Brendan played a solid game Victoria Day; he played a couple of quarters and threw the north's only touchdown and scored a two-point conversion too.
His strengths are exactly what you want in your quarterback. "He's got a good arm and good feet, and he's a smart kid and knows how to read the defence," said Randy.
He said Brendan knows where the holes are in a defence, and knows how to get the ball into those holes.
Slotback
A major playmaker for the 49ers, Stewart had three catches in the all-star game and seemed comfortable playing against elite defensive players.
"Big, tall kid and was one of the leaders of that receiving group," said Randy, referring to the very productive group of 49ers receivers.
"He was the biggest part of our 49ers offence." Stewart alone had 10 touchdown catches last season.
Offensive line
Any of the teams who played the 49ers last year will remember offensive lineman Dreger. Or, more accurately, his blocking. Even more impressive is that Dreger was a converted fullback and pass-catcher.
"For first time, to make the all-star team is just awesome for Zach," said Randy.
He said Dreger earned his spot on the north roster for his hard hits, and in the all-star game Randy had plays designed especially for Dreger.
Not only is his blocking bone-crunching, Dreger has those coveted lineman skills: he can snap shotgun formation and punts. But his specialty, noted Randy, is still getting an angle on a defender and hitting them hard.
Defensive back
Basahti made a name for himself with the 49ers as a cornerback and safety. "Arjun played safety for the 49ers and he has great vision and great feet," said Randy.
Randy said Basahti is multi-faceted, and can play both positions, CB and safety, well. He is good against the run, a great asset for a safety who's watching the secondary, but excels in zone coverage where his vision allows him to pick up on throws and break on the ball quickly.
Looking ahead
What's in store for these soon-to-be Grade 10 athletes?
Randy said three of the players, Brendan, Dreger and Basahti, are heading to Paul Kane High School next year, while their 49ers teammate Stewart is heading to rival Bellerose, which already has its spring training camp underway. Paul Kane's starts next week.
Randy himself said that he will remain as head coach of the 49ers, and will also work as offensive coordinator at Paul Kane next year.
He said Football Alberta deserves a pat on the back for the excellent all-star experience for the kids; the University of Alberta also pitched in, as they let the kids use the Golden Bears' locker room.
