BC boy stepping up in Calgary

Jon Cornish’s big break

By David Hollinshead

wo games ago, the Calgary Stampeders moved running

back Jon Cornish ahead of potential Hall of Famer

Joffrey Reynolds on the depth chart, and they haven’t
looked back. Reynolds was once the premier back of the
league, leading the CFL in rushing in 2008 and 2009, and now
has been a healthy scratch the last two games.

The 26-year-old Cornish on the other hand, has started
the last two games, carrying the ball 22 times for 233 yards,
and was named the CFL’s top Canadian for the month of
September— when he totalled 336 rushing yards and 153
receiving yards and averaged an astounding 7.8 yards a carry
this season with four touchdowns. Cornish, originally from
New Westminister, was named BC Provincial high school
player of the year in 2001.

“T always felt I could play at this level,” Cornish said.
“Tt’s just an opportunity presenting itself so I took advantage
of it.”

The Calgary Stampeders drafted Cornish in the second
A. round of the 2006 CFL Draft out of the University of Kansas,

  

.F&
Sats.

but he was limited to mostly special teams in his rookie
year. In the next three plus years, he developed as Reynolds’
backup, and eventually found himself sharing a one-two punch
attack with Reynolds. In Calgary’s week 13 game against the
Hamilton Tiger-Cats, head coach and general manager John
Hufnagel decided that Cornish would be the team’s primary
ball carrier. Cornish couldn’t have been happier with the
decision, but the fact that it came at the cost of Reynolds, was
bittersweet. With Reynolds being a healthy scratch the past two
games, import running back LaMarcus Coker was activated
from the teams practice squad to back up Cornish.

“Tt’s cool that I get this opportunity, but it sucks that it
comes at the cost [of Reynolds]” Cornish said recently.
The running backs coach for Calgary Mike Gibson speaks very
highly of Cornish, listing his abilities as being able to adjust on
the fly, break arm tackles, and having the speed to outrun most
linebackers who have angles on him. When Cornish returns
home to BC Place, there is no doubt he won’t be expecting
a warm welcome, but will get his first look at the newly
renovated stadium when he comes to Vancouver for the Grey
Cup in November.

 

 

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