Football BC announced today the player rosters for its provincial under-18 tackle football team (“U18 Team BC”) and provincial Grade 8 tackle football team (“Grade 8 Team BC”) that will represent British Columbia at the 4th annual Tanoa Bowl Classic in Auburn, Washington on December 28, 2014.
The Grade 8 team is highlighted by six players from the 2014 BCCFA Junior Bantam 12-man provincial champion, Victoria Renegades: DL Sebastian Hansen, DL Ivan Xu, DL Vincent Taliman, LB Connor Way, REC Dante Carbone and QB Gideone Kremler.
The U18 team is highlighted by a number of top high school prospects who have attracted attention from universities across Canada and in the United States. Among those players include defensive linemen Connor Griffiths (Langley Minor Football) and Keiran Janes (St. Thomas More Knights); receivers Jesse Walker (Mission Roadrunners), Lucas Bill (Carson Graham Eagles) and Justin “JJ” Deslauriers (St. Thomas More Knights); offensive lineman Nick Cessford (Ballenas Whalers); linebacker Caleb Abraham (Lord Tweedsmuir Panthers); and quarterback Theo Landers (Notre Dame Jugglers).
The U18 Team BC will be guided by Jay Prepchuk, a former record-setting quarterback at Simon Fraser University who is currently head coach of the Handsworth Royals Senior Varsity team. He will also serve as the team's offensive coordinator.
Rounding out the U18 Team BC coaching staff is: defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach Alexis Sanschagrin (Belmont Bulldogs), receivers coach Jerome Erdman (McGill Redmen), running backs coach Paul Orazietti (UBC Thunderbirds), offensive line coach Rick Pennell (Langley Rams), linebackers coach Doug Pauls (Westside Warriors/Vancouver College Fighting Irish) and defensive line coach Tom Kudaba (Terry Fox Ravens).
The Grade 8 Team BC will be led by Football BC Technical Director Dino Geremia, a former coach at UBC and SFU, who will also be the team’s defensive coordinator.
Rounding out the Grade 8 coaching staff is: offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Nick Kawaza (Langley Rams/Seaquam Seahawks), offensive line coach Karn Dodd (Mt. Douglas Rams), receivers coach Anthony Rasotto (Notre Dame Jugglers), running backs coach Zac Kremler (Gordon Head Raiders/Victoria Renegades/Mt. Douglas Rams), linebackers coach Sean Dolynski (North Surrey Minor Football) and defensive backs coach Will Loftus (two-time Grey Cup champion as a player).
Both U18 Team BC and Grade 8 Team BC will see game action on Sunday, December 28, 2014.
Grade 8 Team BC will be taking on the NW Cougars at 10 am, while U18 Team BC will face WA Vasa at 12:15 pm. All times Pacific and all games will take place at Auburn Memorial Stadium located at 801 Fourth Ave, N.E. Auburn, Washington.