Nanaimo’s Marshall Cook among island football players with a shot at a Hardy Cup title. Photo: Twitter (Blake Pickard)
A number of football players from Vancouver Island hope to capture the Canada West football title Saturday in Calgary.
Island products helped the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds to a 28-21 victory over the University of Regina Rams this weekend in the Hardy Cup semi-final.
Nanaimo’s Marshall Cook caught two passes for 31 yards against the Rams, with his longest an 18-yard reception.
Victoria’s Edgar Nelson had one solo tackle and an assisted stop for the Thunderbirds, a group that ranked first in the Canada West on defence.
First-year Offensive Lineman Steve Martin of Parksville also took part in the game, helping to protect star quarterback Michael O’Connor who threw for three touchdowns in the win.
One of UBC’s biggest weapons did not play, as Victoria’s Marcus Davis is out for the season with a knee injury.
Davis was leading Canada West receivers with 14 catches through the first two weeks of conference play before being sidelined.
Linebacker Dylan Chapdelaine of Nanaimo, kicker Garrin McDonnell and receiver Sebastian Howard of Parksville and defensive back Luke Howard-Krahn of Victoria did not play Saturday.
The Calgary Dinos defeated the Alberta Golden Bears 39-22 in the other Hardy Cup semi-final.
Mount Douglas High School graduate and linebacker Seye Farinu is on the Dinos’ roster but did not play in the Calgary victory.
This is the third straight year the Thunderbirds and Dinos have met in the Hardy Cup championship game which will be played at McMahon Stadium.
Calgary won last year while the Thunderbirds took the 2015 title en route to the Vanier Cup crown.
Andy Neal
