McGeough moves

Jake McGeough has a glittering football resume — but not at the position he is currently playing.
“Other than recess football in elementary school, I have no experience playing receiver,” the former LeBoldus Golden Suns star quarterback said after participating in a scrimmage Sunday with the PFC’s Regina Thunder.

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“I’ve always played quarterback. It’s weird playing receiver. It’s a lot different, that’s for sure. I was joking with my dad (former Regina Rams linebacker Tim McGeough). He asked me if I was sore and I said, ‘Absolutely — all this running.’ When I played quarterback, I was always moving within a 15-foot radius. Now I have to do more.”
McGeough could hardly have done more in the Regina Intercollegiate Football League. He quarterbacked the LeBoldus Golden Suns to the city and provincial 4A titles in 2008, and also helped Saskatchewan capture the under-19 title at the 2009 Football Canada Cup in Saskatoon. He then returned to LeBoldus for his Grade 12 year.
The Thunder had six quarterbacks at spring camp — veterans Reid Quest and Wyatt Catley, along with rookies McGeough, Asher Hastings (from the Martin Monarchs), Eric Anderson (Luther Lions) and Landon Bessel (Winston Knoll Wolverines). Bessel, the Schwann Conference’s all-star quarterback in 2009, was not at main training camp when it opened Friday.
Even with Bessel out of the equation, McGeough and the coaches have followed through with the position change. The idea was first floated after spring camp.
“He’s a fantastic athlete, and he’s able to play on both sides of the ball,” head coach Erwin Klempner said at Scotty Livingstone Field.
McGeough was given the option of playing on offence or defence. He chose the former due to his familiarity with offensive football.
“I was just at a point where being a 5-foot-9 quarterback is pretty tough,” the 160-pound McGeough noted. “I’m trying to play a game I love at a different position and I landed at receiver. You don’t have to be too tall to be a receiver. Offensive and defensive line was out of the question.”
The latter comment, made in jest, is typical of the good-natured McGeough. He enjoys the game and the team environment — a major reason why the Thunder was interested.
“He’s a real leader,” Klempner said. “He didn’t come in here saying, ‘I’ve got to be a quarterback.’ He said, ‘I’ll help out wherever I can. I’ll take it with a smile on my face and work with it.’
“All he wants is a chance to play. (Receiver) is where he’ll get a chance to play much sooner. He’s a fantastic team guy, and these are the type of guys who make us much better.”
Getting better at a new position has become McGeough’s priority.
“I’m liking it a lot,” he said. “It’s a good change, and a good challenge. I’m looking forward to seeing what I can do.
“It has helped out to be a quarterback before, because I understand the plays a little more and I know where the holes are (in the defence). The guys on the team have been really helpful, too. I have to give a shout-out to Jay Smith and all the other receivers for making it a lot easier for me.”
EXTRAS: The Thunder has practices every weeknight at 7 o’clock … The team has 86 players on its training-camp roster. Klempner plans to take every healthy player to Yorkton for Saturday’s exhibition game against the Winnipeg Rifles. Kickoff is 2 p.m., at Century Field … The Thunder opens its regular season Aug. 22 against the host Edmonton Wildcats. Regina’s home opener is Aug. 29, 1 p.m., against the Calgary Colts at Mosaic Stadium.