KSS Provincial High School Football MVP Still Weighing University Options

Selected as the B.C. Secondary School Football Association’s 2015 offensive most valuable player of the year, Kelowna Owls’ Parker Simson may not line up on that side of the ball next season.

In fact there’s a slight possibility the Grade 12 quarterback/receiver/corner back might not even play football at the university level.

While he’s being courted by just about every serious university football program in the country, Simson is still considering playing both football AND basketball at the post-secondary level.

But if it came down to making a choice of just one sport, Simson concedes he could end up playing the hard-court game.

“I don’t think a lot of the football coaches I’ve talked with realize how big basketball is for me right now,” said Simson, a starting guard with the Owls, the No. 1-ranked team in B.C. high school basketball. “If it came down to choosing one over the other, I would be very comfortable going with just basketball.”

But the 17-year-old versatile athlete extraordinaire believes he can play both sports at the university level and has presented his case to the football coaches he’s talked to. That includes the University of B.C.’s Blake Nill, who this season guided the CIS Canada West Thunderbirds to a Vanier Cup for the first time since 1997.

“Coach Nill is open to the idea and said he would run it by the basketball coach (Kevin Hanson), so we’ll see how that goes. I think that as the basketball season goes on, we can create a bit more of buzz as far as basketball is concerned.”

A similar scenario exists with the University of Alberta. In fact, with the Owls in Edmonton this weekend for the prestigious Reb Invitational basketball tournament, the Golden Bears’ coaching staff will take the time to scout Simson and some of the other promising Kelowna Secondary hoopsters.

As for football, most of the coaches he’s talked to believe the 6-foot-3, 195 pounder would be best suited playing as either a wide receiver or free safety. While he would prefer being on offence, he still thinks staying on the field for entire CIS games is not beyond consideration.

“After playing both ways all through minor football and high school, it would be really tough watching from the sidelines for half the game,” admitted Simson, who also has feelers out in the NCAA, but hasn’t had any serious response from Division 1 schools.

“I still have some work to do getting my name out there, but it’s always been a dream of mine to play at the NCAA level in either sport . . . or both.”

Meanwhile, Simson said it was “an honour” to be recognized as the offensive MVP, although he was unable to attend the Subway Bowl banquet in Vancouver last week. Not surprisingly, his basketball schedule conflicted with awards presentation.

Owls’ coach, Ben Macauley, had much more to say about the Simson, who passed for 902 yards and threw 10 touchdowns, rushed for 785 yards, 12 TDs and 785 yards,while catching eight passes for 225 yards and another three majors.

“We’re very proud of Parker representing the team, school and the City of Kelowna as the provincial MVP.

“I think what stood out most about him is the amount of time and energy other teams put in to plan their game against him.

“Although he’s an exceptional natural athlete, he always fights to get better and make the team better,” added Macauley of is two-way player, who on defence recorded 21 tackles, intercepted eight passes (one TD) and gained 175 yards on five punt returns (one TD . “I haven’t met many persons as competitive as Parker. He takes every win and loss personally.

“Parker will be impossible to replace as a player and a person. We’re proud to be the first step on his journey to success.”

Simson wasn’t the only Owl to be recognized provincially. Teammate Zackari Vint was named as an AAA all-star.

The six-foot, 200-pound defensive end posted 36 tackles, eight sacks and forced three fumbles in only seven games with the Owls this season.

“Zach was such a tough guy to block that most opponents had to hold him,” said coach Macauley. “But he still blew by them. He gets off the ball so quickly that he’s two yards deep by the time the offensive tackle finally gets out of his stance.”

Macauley added that Vint, another product of the Kelowna Minor Football Association, “busted his butt” in the off-season to get bigger, faster and stronger.

“He worked full-time, but was still in the gym twice a day and was also one of the top students in the school. He’s now beginning the fun process of being courted by university football teams.”

The Mt. Boucherie Bears also had two players — Spencer Schmidt and Zac Callaghan — named to the AAA provincial team.

Schmidt was selected as an all-star receiver. He caught 30 passes for 627 yards and seven touchdowns.

Bears’ coach, Mike Godwin, said Schmidt, a two-way starter, deserved all-star consideration as a safety as well as a receiver.

“Spencer really came on over the last half of the season and became a big-play threat,” noted Godwin. “Aside from catching the ball, he really developed into an excellent blocker.”

Callaghan was one of three linebackers in the province named to the AAA all-star team. He led the Bears with 42 tackles, two sacks and two fumble recoveries, despite missing two games with an injured shoulder.

“Zac was steady for us all season on both sides of the ball (he was a running back on offence),” pointed out Godwin. “He has good speed for a linebacker, enabling him to make tackles all over the field.”

Andrew Becker of the Rutland Voodoos was also selected for the provincial dream team, getting the nod as an offensive lineman.

Touted by Voodoos’ coach, Pete McCall, before the season began as the top O-lineman in B.C. high school football, Becker did his best to live up to the billing.

A starter since Gr. 9, Becker has been an anchor all along the way.

"Andrew paved the way for our offence all year," said McCall. "We built that offence around him, and our running backs were the beneficiaries of the gaps ad lanes he created."

The Voodoos' captain, Becker is "as humble as they come", according to McCall.

"He motivates by example and does all the right things in the weight room. His future in bright — on and off the field."

Becker joins Tyrell Francisco, Dan Ferrier and Michel Vecchio as provincial all-stars from the Voodoos in the past 14 years.