Reliable Dolphins’ spark

The varsity Ajax-Pickering Dolphins of the Ontario Varsity Football League (OVFL) have had trouble getting enough players to fill their roster this season.

This has forced the team to have players playing on both sides of the ball. Each week, the offence has been occupied by new personnel which has affected their scoring this season.

However, there is one player the Dolphins have able to rely upon – 17-year-old (2014 CFC TOP 100) Raishaun Provo.

This season, Provo has been most of the offence for the Dolphins. As a quarterback, he has 582 total yards and as a running back he’s second on the team with 271 yards – just 19 shy of his teammate Jordan Grimes.

“He’s a running quarterback, he loves to scramble,” said Dolphins Head Coach Bert Smith.

Currently, Provo is second in the league in quarterback rushing yards with 257 to Halton Cowboys Daniel Bateman’s 332 yards.

The reason for the abundance of rushing yards is because he’s usually a running back.

“Two years ago I decided to switch from quarterback to running back,” said Provo. “But since this could be my last year with the Dolphins, I decided to play quarterback.”

This past weekend, Provo got his first chance to return to the running back position and had seven carries for 14 yards and a rushing touchdown.  In addition, he had five catches for 76 yards.

Despite being back in his natural position,  the Dolphins lost to the Cumberland Panthers 37-34.  It was another loss that Provo did not expect.

“I was expecting to be 4-1 by now, not 2-3,” said Provo. “Hopefully we can beat a couple of teams and get into the playoffs.”

The 5’11” running back has been playing football with the Dolphins for his entire career. In the fall he plays for his high school team, the St. Mary Monarchs of the Lake Ontario Secondary School Athletic Association (LOSSAA), where the team grabbed anb OFSAA Bowl victory – 20-13 over the Westgate CVI Tigers from Thunder Bay. Provo was also named League MVP.

Last fall, Provo decided he would take his running game to the Carleton Ravens for the 2014 OUS season.

“It’s a new challenge, I’m back down to being one of the youngest players,” said Provo. “I expect to start.”

“I think in a few years we’ll be the team to beat.”

Not lacking any confidence, Provo will be welcomed to the program by familiar faces.

“I know a lot of players on the team, and the coaches,” said Provo.

Provo spends most of his free time training and relaxing with friends. He hopes to one-day play in the National Football League, preferably for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“Everything I do in my life has to do with football,” said Provo.