A high school reunion took place at McMahon Stadium on the weekend.
Former Foothills Falcon Anthony Parker, a slotback for the Calgary Stampeders, and Montreal Alouette linebacker Bryn Roy were on the turf in the Stamps’ 29-8 victory over the Als on Saturday in Calgary.
“It was great to see Bryn healthy and playing on the field,” Parker said. “The last time he was out here he wasn’t actually dressing…. This time he was on the field.”
Parker said not only was this the first time a pair of Falcons have squared off in the CFL, they are the only two former Foothills Comp players to play in the big league. Parker and Roy were members of the Falcons when they won the Tier II provincial championship in 2004. Parker added another title in 2006 with the Comp.
“To be facing off against each other, is just a great thing,” said Parker, the Stamps first-round pick from the U of C Dinos in 2011.
Parker had the upper hand on Saturday. He had one reception for the Stamps’ final touchdown when he was wide-open in the end zone.
Roy, a backup linebacker, was limited to special team duties with the Als on kick-off and punts.
“This was the first time I got to play against Anthony so it was good to meet up with again — it’s been a while since we were wearing Falcons jerseys.”
Things looked just a little too familiar for Roy now that he is wearing a different jersey than his high school buddy.
“You could never count Anthony out and talent carries over,” Roy said with a smile. “He was scoring touchdowns in high school and he scored another one today.
“Anthony’s a good player.”
Roy said it’s a credit to the Falcons’ program to have a pair of players in the CFL.
“It’s outstanding for the program,” Roy said. “It’s says a lot about the Comp and the athletes they produce and Okotoks in general.”
Although the Comp grads spoke to each other before and after the game, they didn’t get to knock heads on Saturday.
“Our paths crossed on the field, but we were never matched up against each other,” Roy said.
He said he hopes to get in as a position player in the near future.
“I’m playing three different defensive positions so I’m the next guy up in a lot of different spots,” said Roy, a fifth-round draft pick of the Als in 2012. “If that happens, great. If not, I will be ready when it does.”
Roy is a Strathmore area native but after playing in the strong Okotoks Bantam Eagles program, he opted to transfer to Foothills Composite in the fall of 2004. Roy’s and Parker’s former high school coach Kevin Klotz watched Saturday’s game.
“I am so proud of these guys because they have worked so hard — it’s been a long road,” Klotz said. “They took different paths, but nobody worked harder than they did.”
They also had talent.
“Anytime you put the ball in Anthony’s hand, he could score for us,” Klotz said. “Bryn would bail us out many times on defence. He was our safety.
“With those two guys on the field, good things happen for us.”
Parker was on the field much of the time when the Stamps had the ball.
“I had a great camp this year and I was able to prove what I can do,” said Parker, adding he has extensive knowledge of the offence thanks to his three prior years with the Stamps.
Stampeders head coach John Hufnagel said Parker has worked hard for the extra time on the field.
“He’s part of our football team and we are going to utilize him as much as possible, but I can’t predict how we are going to use him from one week to another,” Hufnagel said. “He had a very nice training camp and he is getting better.”
Although Parker and Roy are the first Comp grads to play in the CFL, there are folks who have worn the Falcons’ burgundy and black with ties to the league.
Current Falcons assistant coach Jackie Kellogg won a Grey Cup with the Stamps in 1998 on Mark McLoughlin’s last-second field goal. He later played with the Eskimos.
Roy’s former teacher, Ray Watrin, won a pair of Grey Cups with the Als.
“It’s an honour to play where he did,” Roy said. “He was actually my math teacher and he was my football coach.
“I always looked up to him, so when I got drafted by the Montreal Alouettes it was a cool experience.”
Holy Trinity Academy grad Charlie Power is a fullback with the Stamps but did not play because he was on the one-game injury reserve list.
