Ashton MacKinnon is like most high school football players, looking to ultimately attract a scholarship to university or college in hopes of extending his playing career.
At six-foot-six and 210 pounds he's sure to draw a little more attention, especially considering he's a quarterback.
"Ashton has a fantastic frame for a quarterback, coupled with a strong arm and good fundamentals," said Paul Orazietti, the UBC Thunderbirds assistant coach and recruiting co-ordinator, who coached MacKinnon on the sa国际传媒 Under-15 team. "Ashton obviously has been well coached at Mount Doug and has many intangibles that university coaches are looking for.
"Top among those, he has a high football IQ, coupled with quiet confidence and leadership that will make him an asset at the next level."
And on top of that, the lanky pivot is still in Grade 11.
The Mount Doug Rams quarterback will be back in action this afternoon as the defending varsity champions take on Vancouver College at 5 p.m. at Royal Athletic Park, following the junior Rams game at 2: 30 p.m.
So far, MacKinnon has proved to be a cool cucumber in moving up from the junior program last season, a year in which the junior club lost in the sa国际传媒 final.
"Boy, am I ever pleased with the progress he's made," Rams head coach Mark Townsend said of MacKinnon. "He's a tremendous athlete, who moves very well in the pocket and is not afraid to carry the ball.
"He's demonstrated a physical presence and he's showing tremendous poise. What I really like is he's become a very gritty competitor."
Last week, MacKinnon completed seven of 13 passes for 149 yards and two touchdowns in the Rams' season-opening 41-26 win over St. Thomas More. His overall numbers in four games, including three in pre-season, are 50 of 72 passes for 730 yards and 11 TD throws.
Numbers that will go a long way towards grabbing the attention of prospective schools both in sa国际传媒 and possibly the U.S.
"He will absolutely capture the attention of scouts," said Townsend. "I think he's on the radar now and will be for a lot of CIS schools. Just his size and athletic ability alone will be a key. He possesses such a strong arm, but it's also very accurate."
Originally from Youngstown, Alta., (near Drumheller), MacKinnon began playing football in Victoria about eight years ago.
"I'm very happy with how I've been doing," he said of his start to the season.
"I'm mobile when I have to be," he said, in describing his game. "My offensive line gives me lots of time. I stay in the pocket as much as I can, but I do like to run the ball."
He displayed that ability in a 40-36 pre-season win over John Barsby in Nanaimo where he was 13 for 16 in passing for 224 yards and three TDs, and rushed for 58 yards on seven carries, including a 15-yard touchdown.
At this rate he will be high on recruitment lists.
"I want to go play football at as high a level that I can and go as far as I can," said MacKinnon. "I would prefer down south, but up here is fine. I do think the U.S. is attainable. A large part of it is my size, but I also need to get better with technique. But my size helps in that regard."
Across town in Langford, the Belmont Bulldogs host the Ballenas Whalers today at Goudy Field with juniors kicking off at 2 p.m. and seniors at 5 p.m.
