BC Trio help Dinos defeat UBC:

A trio of true freshmen from British Columbia had an impact on the University of Calgary Dinos defeat of the UBC Thunderbirds 49-16 in Canada West football action Friday evening.

True freshmen Jack McDonald, Blake Gau, and Seye Farinu all saw action on special teams. McDonald also played a couple of series on offense in the fourth quarter and Farinu got some time in at Linebacker on the final defensive series.

“All three young men had strong training camps and played well in our pre-season game at Medicine Hat against the University of Regina,” stated Head Coach Wayne Harris.

The 6’1”, 210 lbs McDonald, is from a football background. His father, Bruce, played for UBC and was a Conference all-star defensive back and had a tryout with Edmonton in the CFL. Jack joined the Dinos after outstanding High School career at South Delta. where he was AAA all-star linebacker and also played receiver on offense. He is being used as an inside receiver with the Dinos and has taken some reps with the first group during practice. McDonald’s family were on hand for Jack’s first Conference game as a Dino.

Gau was a teammate of McDonald’s at South Delta is splitting his time between outside linebacker and defensive back, a system used in the pas to create Dinos great and current Blue Bomber Sam Hurl. Gau recorded a special team tackle in his first game on Friday evening. Like McDonald, Gau played for Coach Ray Moon at South Delta helping them to the provincial Championship last year. The 6’, 195 lbs. Gau is enrolled in the Haskayne School of Business.

Farinu is a graduate of Mount Douglas High School in Victoria. He was a member of the AAA all-star team at running back and also saw action at linebacker. He is playing outside linebacker for the Dinos in his inaugural season in Canada West. Backing up former MVP Doctor Cassama.  Seye played for coach Mark Townsend in High School and was ranked in the CFC Top 100 last year. The 5’9”, 195 lbs Farinu is a first year student in the Haskayne School of Business.

The Dinos look forward to additional contributions from Jack, Blake, and Seye not only this year but through out their careers with the program.

2015 Senior Bowl Report

Seventeen 2015 Dinos recruits helped the South all-stars to a convincing 36-15 triumph over the North all-stars in the annual Football Alberta Senior Bowl at McMahon Stadium on Monday afternoon.

The South offensive line contained 5 players that have committed to Calgary for 2015 season. Offensive Linemen Brendan Barnes (Centennial), Darth Hundal (St. Francis), Spencer Roy (Notre Dame), Skye King (Notre Dame) and Aidan Smith (Cochrane) were impressive creating holes for the running game and giving the quarterbacks time to pass.

At Receiver Jeshrun Antwi (Father Lacombe), Daniel Adesegun (Father Lacombe) and Bennett Thompson (George McDougall, Airdrie) all had solid games for the South team. At Running Back Brendan Hansen (Henry Wisewood) was injured during the camp and did not participate in the game.

Defensively, lineman Steven Finot (Notre Dame) was a force through out the game with constant pressure. At Linebacker Rylan Kettles (Willow Creek), Mason Johnson (Centennial) and Shawn Gladun (BOB) were all over the field making stops. While at Defensive Back Joe Cant (Notre Dame), Cody Ouwejan (Henry Wisewood), Scott Haigh (Bow Valley) and Josh Quarles (Henry Wisewood) were impressive in their coverage skills and on special teams.

For these players it marked the final chapter of their High School career. They will now concentrate on their final examinations before moving on to the next level of their football careers beginning in mid-August with Dinos training camp.

SEVEN DINOS SELECTED IN CFL DRAFT:

The University of Calgary had seven players draft eligible for 2015 Canadian Football League Draft, all seven were selected with their talent being dispersed through the league.

Offensive linemen Sukh Chungh and Sean McEwen went second and third overall respectively to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Toronto Argonauts marking it the second time in three years Calgary has had two players go in the top three. The offensive line duo spent the past weekend at the New York Giants rookie free agent camp.

“Our players being selected where they were speaks to the people in our program,” stated McEwen who has been a four year starter along the offensive line. “Education is important to me and getting my degree. I am very happy that they (Toronto) thought that much about me.”

"It’s a great feeling. I’m thrilled. I’m excited and I couldn’t be happier to be a Blue Bomber,” Chungh told the Winnipeg Free Press when contacted at his parent’s home in Port Coquitlam, BC.

Inside receiver Jake Harty was selected 10^th overall by the Ottawa Red Blacks being the first player selected in the second round.  “This is a surreal experience for me going to a young team like Ottawa. We had three players go in the Top Ten, it is amazing for our program,” stated Harty who acknowledged he had conversations with the Red Blacks prior to the draft.

Eighteen picks later, the Red Blacks selected Harty’s teammate, linebacker and long snapper Tanner Doll with 28th pick overall. Doll follows in his father’s footsteps as his father, Garrett, was a second round selection (11^th overall) by the Calgary Stampeders in 1985. “This is a special moment for me and my family and am excited about going to the next level in football,” Doll stated.

In between the selection of Harty and Doll, all-Canadian linebacker Adam Konar was chosen by the Edmonton Eskimos going 25th overall. Like Doll, Konar hopes to follow in is father’s footsteps in the Canadian Football League. His father, Kevin, was selected by BC Lions fifth overall in the 1980 draft having a stellar 10-year career with the Lions.

Defensive lineman Tyler Langlais, who missed much of last year due to an injury suffered in the 2013 Vanier Cup game was selected 47th overall by the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The Dryden, Ontario native worked extremely hard during his tenure with the Dinos and the Riders contacted Coach Wayne Harris about Langlais a week prior to the draft.

The Calgary Stampeders selected 2014 Hec Crighton and Russ Jackson Trophy winner Andrew Buckley with their final pick in the seventh round. Buckley is elated about chosen, especially by the hometown Stampeders. “I went to their camp last year as a development player and now get to participate again in my hometown,  is something I am looking forward to,” stated Buckley, “I could not be happier.”