Class 2013: Sam DeMone, RB, Dr. John Hugh Gillis Royals

Today, CFC features class 2013 star running back from the Dr. John Hugh Gillis Royals, Sam DeMone. Sam began playing football for the peewee Port Hawkesbury Saints.

Sam Demone

Positions:
Running Back

Height/Weight:
5’7, 192 lbs

Teams:
Dr. John Hugh Gillis Royals (high school)
Cape Breton Panthers (junior varsity)
Highland Renegades (bantam)
Port Hawkesbury Saints (peewee)
Team Nova Scotia under-18

Commitment:
None

Consideration:
Open

Class:
2013

When Sam was 11 years old, he began his football career by playing fullback with his hometown peewee team, the Port Hawkesbury Saints. During his time with the Saints, the star running back was team MVP twice and also received two straight provincial offensive awards.

After playing with the team for four seasons, Sam moved over to the bantam Renegades in Antigonish, where he played tailback. The star player was part of back to back Tier 2 championship titles and was team offensive and overall team MVP. Additionally, Sam was honoured with the provincial award for offense and the Nova Scotia Fairplay award.

Once he completed the bantam ranks, the Cape Breton star had to find elsewhere where he could continue his passion for football.

“My high school lost its program four years ago and hasn’t regained it yet,” explains Sam who also played junior varsity with the Cape Breton Panthers. “I knew without the game I’d be lost, so then I made the decision to try out for Team Nova Scotia.”

Successful in his tryout, Sam was honoured to part of the provincial team that competed at the Football Canada Cup in Lethbridge, Alberta this past summer. However, he still wanted to play on a high school team and made a major decision in order to continue his football career.

“I then made the choice to move away from home and change high schools to play with the Dr. J.H. Gillis Royals,” comments Sam.

While playing with the Royals, the star running back experienced a memorable moment. In a game this past season against the Avon View Avalanche, it was supposed to be under Friday night lights. With 1:21 left in the fourth quarter, the game was still tied 0-0. The Royals running back explains what happened next.

“Play was stopped and all of the lights shut off (Friday night, the lights went out we called it),” says Sam. “When the lights came back on, we marched down the field and I scored the winning touchdown.”

All the football goals Sam has been able to achieve thus far are due to his brothers. They have helped to shape the way the standout attacks his football goals.

“My oldest brother trained me very well and hard to get to where I am today, and my other brother pushed me through every step,” says the grade 11 star. “They did teach me how to work hard, even though we aren’t the tallest athletes around we certainly put forward the effort.”

“Hard work beats skill and that is what we go by when we train.”

There are other family members too that have also played a key role in making Sam’s football dreams become a reality.

“I’d like to also point out my mother and father for being there to bring me to practices and games all over the province,” comments Sam. “If it weren’t for these people, I wouldn’t be doing what I do.”

When it comes to future plans, the Royals running back would like to attend university once he completes high school. Furthermore, Sam has always had a keen interest in the air force; therefore, it may be a future career goal.

From football, Sam has learned not to quit even if the going gets tough. However, that is not the only thing he has learned from the game.

“Never accept defeat before or after a game, explains Sam. ”The biggest thing I havel earned is to play with my heart and leave everything on the field and anything I do off of it.”

Lorne Burke is the coach of the Cape Breton Panthers in the Nova Scotia Minor Football League. He first saw Sam playing for a rival club and the Panthers coaching staff were impressed with what they saw from the running back.

“It was evident to my staff after our first time competing against Sam’s club that he was an elite player and a leader on his club,” comments Burke. “Sam displayed all the values of a great player in his level of conditioning, his effort on the field and the respect he showed for team mates,oponents and officials.”

Eventually, Burke got the opportunity to coach the phenom during the 2011 Nova Scotia junior varsity season. Not only did Sam bring strong leadership to the Panthers, but other intangibles.

“One thing comes to mind was Sam’s versitilty, his excellent conditioning and knowlege of the game enable us to use Sam at his natural position of running back as well on defence and even had him doing some kicking for our club when we expierenced an injury,” adds the Panthers head coach.

Overall, the star running back has proven that he is a great asset for any team. It has been the case for the Panthers.

“Sam was able to walk on to our club after playing against most of the players for two years and was immediately accepted and regarded as a leader within the team,” explains Burke. “He was able to pick up our concepts quickly and more often than not was our best player on the field.”

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