Their football season may be over but the biggest challenge could still lie ahead for three Coquitlam Minor Football players.
Jaden Severy and Alex Figner have been selected to play for the Team BC Grade 7 team while Cole Kashino will suit up for the Grade 6 squad next weekend in Sammamish, Wash. The B.C. teams are among 64 teams from across Canada and the U.S. squaring off for the Football University National Championship.
"I'm definitely looking forward to the competitive aspect but I'm super nervous. It's my first time ever being at such a high level," said Figner, who played with the Coquitlam Roughriders. "It is American ball so there will be rule changes and it will be tough."
Figner played linebacker and fullback with the Roughriders but will be lining up at defensive end for Team BC.
"Although my position is defensive end, you get to move around a bit. I might be linebacker and I also might be playing some running back."
He said he likes the combination of strength and speed that is necessary to succeed on the gridiron.
Figner will be joined on the Grade 7 team by Jaden Severy, his teammate with the Roughriders who will be playing linebacker and running back.
"I like playing defence because I like the hitting," said Severy, whose favourite player is Marshawn Lynch of the Seattle Seahawks.
Figner and Severy look forward to playing for the Terry Fox Ravens when they enter high school
Both Severy and Figner are viewing the Team BC opportunity as a second chance for the playoffs as the Roughriders weren't able to make the post-season.
Team BC opens the tournament Saturday against a team from Eastern Washington/Idaho. The winner of that game will play the winner of a game between Seattle and Oregon. And if Team BC is able to win both those games they would advance to the next round the following weekend in Sacramento, Calif.
"Hopefully we can win our games so we can continue all the way and hopefully get to the finals," said Severy.
Kashino would have suited up with the Coquitlam Wildcats this year but a broken arm sidelined him before the season even began.
"It's going to be kind of weird because you have been playing against (his Team BC teammates) all the time and now you're on the same team," he said.
Kashino lined up as a linebacker and fullback in Coquitlam Minor Football but will play defensive end for Team BC.
All three Coquitlam products say they are looking forward to challenging themselves against the high level of competition that will be taking part in the FBU national tournament.
"It makes it more challenging and also makes it a lot more fun to play against kids who really, really want to win," said Figner.
