Terry Fox Ravens’ star quarterback playing the waiting game due to shoulder injury

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Ideally this would have been a story about how the play these days of B.C. Lions star Nathan Rourke is inspiring high school quarterbacks around the province, with Terry Fox Ravens pivot Owen Sieben as one of the leading examples.

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Instead, Rourke’s breakthrough as a Canadian QB in the CFL came to a well-documented halt in August, a foot injury sending the Victoria-born and Oakville, Ont.,-raised passer to the sidelines. There’s hope that Rourke is back for the playoffs in November.

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Sieben’s in a similar predicament. He hurt his throwing shoulder against the Mt. Douglas Rams on Sept. 16 and the Grade 12 pivot is hoping to return to the Ravens’ lineup for their regular-season finale against the Centennial Centaurs on Nov. 4.

Port Coquitlam’s Ravens were No. 3 in last week’s Triple A provincial high school football rankings. They won their first game without Sieben in the lineup, beating the host Kelowna Owls 27-3 at the Apple Bowl on Friday in the regular-season opener for both squads. 

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“I have full confidence in our team in my absence. We have many playmakers who will continue to make big plays for us,” the 6-foot-3, 185 pound Sieben, 17, explained. “I have strong belief in Renzel Arinaza and Zach Golab (who are expected to split time at quarterback).

“I’m excited to watch my team and ready when the time comes to get back on the field with them.”

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Terry Fox have been consistent contenders the past few years on the gridiron. They lost in last year’s Coastal Championship title game — remember that the high school football playoffs were shifted to more regional competition due to travel concerns brought about by flooding around the province — after losing in the provincial finale in 2017 and winning the B.C. banner in 2016.

Sieben talks about how knowing the program’s history and seeing the banners and trophies at the school “is motivating.” That built-in driving force, along with the Ravens having a veteran coaching staff featuring bench boss Tom Kudaba and offensive coordinator Martin McDonnell, should keep Terry Fox in the upper echelon of Triple A teams this season even with Sieben on the shelf, according to Kelowna head coach Chris Cartwright.

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“They’re always going to bring it, they’re always going to be getting better,” Cartwright said. “They’re going to find a way. Guys like Tom and Marty always do. They seem to always get the best out of their players.”

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Sieben’s aim is to play university next year as a QB. He says he’s been getting interest in that regard. Some high school quarterbacks change positions at the next level. 

He started football when he was eight years old, fell in love with quarterback when he was about 10 and his parents soon after had him tutoring with local QB skills coach Jay Prepchuk.

“People are going to check on the injury but they won’t need to see him complete his senior year to be interested in him,” Prepchuk said. “They know what he’s about. He sees the game well. He moves well. He’s got a quick release. He’s super-coachable. There’s a lot to like.” 

Terry Fox went 10-1 last season, with their lone loss that 36-33 decision in the Coastal finale against the G.W. Graham Grizzlies of Chilliwack. On the season, Sieben passed for 1,879 yards, with 21 touchdowns to just two interceptions.

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He says he’s studied more-and-more game film as he climbs the football ladder.

“No matter how far can you throw it, you’re not going to be able to have success if you can’t read what a defence is trying to do,” Sieben said. “As I’ve gotten older, I feel like my ability to break down a defence has improved.”

And, for what it’s worth, he was paying attention to what Rourke was doing with the Lions.

“I think he brought a lot of eyes to the CFL. People wanted to see that exciting brand of football,” Sieben said. “It did open my mind. It showed me what was possible with hard work.”

Terry Fox is slated to host the Lord Tweedsmuir Panthers of Surrey next Friday at Percy Perry Stadium in Coquitlam. There should be a new team atop the provincial rankings when they come out later this week, too, since the No. 2 Vancouver College Fighting Irish outlasted No. 1 G.W. Graham 28-23 Saturday at Vancouver College.

“I think we started to find our identity as a team. We had to fight through adversity,” said Vancouver College coach Bryan Chiu.

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twitter: @SteveEwen