Rival instinct

Two local schools emerge as frontrunners for Trojans standout

For Camrose Trojans slotback Devon Moss, it’s all about building rivalries.

Devon Moss

Positions:
Slotback

Height/Weight:
5’10, 160 lbs

Teams:
Camrose Trojans (high school:  ASAA)
Harry Ainlay Titans (high school: ASAA)
Leduc Ti-Cats (bantam)
Camrose Buffaloes (peewee, bantam)

Commitment:
None

Official Visits:
None

Consideration:
Alberta, Calgary, Open

Class:
2015

Devon started his football career in Camrose with the peewee Buffaloes. In his second year of peewee, they took home the Tier 4 Provincial Championship.

The following year, Devon moved up to bantam with the Buffaloes. He says the City Championship Semi-Final against the Sherwood Park Northstars that season remains one of the most memorable games of his football career.

“The Northstars and the Buffaloes had a rivalry that was started the year before I joined the bantam team when the Northstars had beaten the Buffaloes,” Devon recalls. “Being a very short-benched team and going undefeated, only to play this rivalry team, and winning that game to go on to the finals, that game was one of the best experiences I’ve had playing football.”

The Buffaloes went undefeated on the regular season that year only to lose the Tier 3 City Championship game.

However, Devon did gain a measure of redemption the following year. He started playing for the Leduc Ti-Cats’ bantam team, and took home the Tier 2 City Championship.

That year, Devon’s head coach created a new award specifically for him: All-Purpose Player.

“At some point in the season I had played every position besides centre, and excelled at most,” he says.

The following summer, Devon played for the Zone 5 team in the Alberta Summer Games, helping them place fourth.

“The best part about Summer Games I’d say was the atmosphere,” he says. “It was a completely different experience playing with and against some of the top players in Alberta.”

“It was way more competitive.”

Devon moved from Camrose to Edmonton to play for the Harry Ainlay Titans of the Alberta Schools Athletic Association (ASAA), where he made the senior team in his first year.

He says he enjoyed the experience of being from a small town and coming up to play on a big city team – and one who was defending its Tier 1 Provincial Championship at that.

Last season, Devon moved back to Camrose to play for the ASAA’s Trojans. Twice, they won the Highway 13 Cup rivalry trophy in their games again the Wetaskiwin Sabres.

“The rivalry began well before I was a Trojan,” Devon says. “Wetaskiwin and Camrose being so close to each other and always having to compete with each other, usually with games coming down to the wire, would be a main factor.”

Devon is proud to have played for the Trojans.

“This past season was the start of a turn around season for the Trojans,” Devon says. “The best part for me was being able to contribute to a more successful season for the Trojans than the last few.”

“That and playing with the same core group of guys I started my football career with.”

Off the football field, Devon enjoys playing guitar, and he also snowboards in the winter.

“Really anything active,” he says of his interests. “I just like to be out and about whenever possible.”

Devon has had several major influences over the course of his football career, both professional and personal. His professional role models include CFL star S.J. Green, and the NFL’s Wes Welker.

“I love watching both of them and how they play the game,” Devon says.

Devon also has enormous respect for his bantam coach, James Dunphay. “He saw the potential in me from the beginning and he was always there to push me to give 110 percent on the field, or just to talk through anything.”

Finally, Devon is particularly grateful to his parents for their continued support and willingness to do whatever it takes to help him succeed.

While he hasn’t had any official visits yet, Devon says his top picks for post-secondary football would be either the University of Calgary Dinos or the University of Alberta Golden Bears, as he would like to stay close to home.