STM aims high at B.C. finals

STM aims high at B.C. finals
By Dan Hilborn, Burnaby NOW assistant editor
Published Nov. 13, 2002

After downing one nemesis in convincing fashion last week, the St. Thomas More Knights are expecting to run smack into another one of their most dreaded foes during the B.C. AAA high school football championships this weekend.
The Knights, currently ranked No. 3 in the province, will likely play the No. 1-ranked W.J. Mouat Hawks when the B.C. football quarterfinals are played under the dome of B.C. Place Stadium on Friday night.
"We're going to need a ball control offence," coach K.C. Steele told the Burnaby NOW. "We need to make long drives and consume a lot of time. If we can make the big plays on defence and dominate the line, then we'll do well."
Earlier this season, the Knights lost a hard-fought 23-14 decision to the Hawks, a game that could have been much worse, after STM found itself down 17-0 in the first quarter.
"The kids weren't prepared for that game, and they know it," Steele said. "We weren't able to capitalize when we got inside the 15-yard line. Those are the things that we have to clean up."
As they have all year, the Knights will be looking to Grade 12 running back Calvin McCarty for leadership on the field. The five- foot-11, 190-lb running back is described as "one of the most complete football players I've ever coached," said Steele.
"He's currently our nominee for player of the year. He's a real asset, with great tools and great attitude. When Calvin performs well, the whole team performs well. He takes his game, and brings kids along with him to the next level.
"I think he'll be the number one kid coming out of B.C., if not Canada this year." McCarty has an incredible record of 27 touchdown, 2,001 yards and 170 carries in just nine games with the Knights this season.
Also key to the Knights' success will be the work of quarterback Jacques DesLaurier, a senior with 540 yards, 30 completions on 63 attempts and five touchdowns this season.
"He's got a good eye for the ball and a nose for defence," the coach said of his field general.
The team will also be looking to conference all-star John Reeves, a six-foot-two, 270-lb lineman, for the backfield support.
Recently, those keys all came together when the Knights scored a lopsided 41-0 victory over the Centennial Centaurs to avenge last year's B.C. quarter-final loss to the team from Coquitlam.