V.I. Raiders Have a Live Arm in QB Yantz

August 31, 2009

Michael Rhode, The Daily News

Jordan Yantz admits leaving his Regina home to play junior football last year was a little intimidating.

He wasn't quite ready, fresh out of high school, to join the Vancouver Island Raiders when the 2008 season began.

But a couple of months later he took a chance, joined the team for their Canadian Bowl championship run and is the main man at the quarterback position this season for the team.

"Coach (Matt Blokker) recruited me out of high school but I kind of rejected it," said Yantz, 19. "I was a little scared to leave home and stuff like that.

"Then I got a call halfway through the season to come and check it out. I tested it out and figured out that I loved it."

The Raiders are glad Yantz had a change of heart.

Yantz got into minimal action with the Raiders last season behind started Campbell Antonini.

He watched and learned, not worrying so much about playing time. The knowledge he soaked up last season has been applied to this year.

He's still young and makes some mistakes (he was just 6-for-18 in a 45-21 win over Victoria Saturday) but he's shown plenty of poise in the pocket, throwing for 10 touchdown passes and only two interceptions.

"I learned lots, especially from Campbell," said Yantz. "You see how much faster junior football is compared to high school.

"You've just got to prepare yourself for it.

"There's definitely a little more weight on your shoulders when you are a starting quarterback but I think with the leaders that we've got, like (running back Andrew) Harris and (offensive lineman) Curtis Vizza, everyone is stepping up and taking a lot of responsibility."

The Raiders are throwing the ball as much as last season. Yantz (30-for-55, 721 yards) and Marc Migneault (12-for-20, 171 yards) are on pace with last year's starter Campbell Antonini who had 78 pass attempts after four games. Success in the passing game comes by way of all the receivers.

The Raiders have a great receiver corps and Yantz said trying to keep them all happy with balls thrown their way is difficult but the end result is teamwork.

"We have so much depth with our receivers, it's the type of deal where this guy wants the ball, another guy wants the ball, this guy is upset because he's not getting the ball," said Yantz. "Whoever gets the ball, the other guys will come back and block. All you have to do is get it to them. That's what makes it so much fun."

A week ago against Vancouver, the Raiders scored on their first four offensive plays, including two long pass completions by Yantz.

"I think they were both 60 yards or so. That game was tons of fun."

Yantz had three more years of junior football eligibility after this season. School may be a future option.

"I'm thinking about it," he said. "I was going to apply for an electrician program but I was too late. I'm probably going to go next year."

Blokker is pleased with the way his starting pivot has progressed, in light of the pressure to produce on a weekly basis.

"I'm really proud of the young man," said Blokker. "He's got some massive expectations put on him. As coaches, we expect so much out of our offence but the reality of it is Jordan really is a rookie.

"He came in and played some mop up last year but this is the first time that everything is on his shoulders. He's the guy and I think he's done an incredible job for us. He's got a bright future. He's one of the better quarterbacks in the league already."