When Andrew Pocrnic was 16, in Grade 10, he realized he had a talent for football.
鈥淪omething just clicked in my head,鈥� Pocrnic told the 91原创 Advance Times.
鈥淚 just ran with it.鈥�
Quite literally, as it turned out.
Six years on, the now 22-year-old 91原创 Rams running back has been signed by the B.C. Lions as a territorial protected junior player.
RAD MORE: 91原创 Rams Andrew Pocrnic signs with BC Lions
That put the cap on a season to remember, one that saw the Saskatoon native shatter several long-standing records in his last year with the team.
Pocrnic was a big reason why the BCFL Rams went undefeated during the 10-game regular season, with some blowout wins that saw the 5 ft.10 in., 210-pound Pocrnic blast past several long-standing records.
He wrapped up the regular season with records for most rushing yards at more than 1,100, most touchdowns in a game (six), most rushing touchdowns in a season (26), most touchdowns in consecutive games (12), most points in a season (1,672).
Along with setting a Canadian Junior Football single-season record for touchdowns (27) in 2019, Pocrnic was named the BC Conference鈥檚 most outstanding player.
His version of events is that he wouldn鈥檛 have got there without teammates who backed his plays and cleared a path through defensive lines, and a coaching staff who supported his bid to enter the record books.
His efforts helped the team to another Cullen Cup and a berth in the Canadian Bowl final against Saskatoon, and a narrow defeat before a hometown crowd at McLeod Athletic Park.
With so many accomplishments on his resume, turning pro would seem to be a logical, even inevitable next step. But Pocrnic still sounded surprised.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a bit of a surreal feeling,鈥� he commented.
He doesn鈥檛 sound like someone who plans to rest on his laurels.
鈥淣ow, there鈥檚 new goals and new objectives,鈥� Pocrnic observed.
鈥淚 have to make my mark there.鈥�
He intends to approach his new challenge the same 鈥渄ay-by-day鈥� way he went after the records, by not allowing himself to be overwhelmed by the size of the task and focusing on his immediate goals.
鈥淚 like to set goals for myself.鈥�
Long-range, he aims to have a career with longevity, to be a 鈥�10-year鈥� professional who makes enough from the sport to support his family.
鈥淚 love the sport,鈥� he said. 鈥淓ver since I started to play football, it鈥檚 been a love and passion. I love what it can do for my family. Hopefully, I can make enough that I can help my family.鈥�
Especially, his mother, Jadranka, who has been to almost every game he鈥檚 appeared in, even though she lives in Saskatoon.
She is, he agrees, his biggest fan鈥揳s he is hers.
鈥淭hat kind of goes both ways,鈥� he said.
Rams head coach Howie Zaron thinks Pocrnic will rise to the challenge of CFL play.
鈥淗e got the opportunity to play for a high-calibre football team and that motivated him,鈥� Zaron commented.
Pocrnic 鈥渄eserves full credit鈥� for making the most of the opportunity, Zaron added
The coach also expects former Ram Jevon Cottoy, a wide receiver who now plays for the Lions, will help Pocrnic make the transition.
Now the Rams coach has the task of replacing Pocrnic along with other departing players.
鈥淩ight now, we have about six spots to fill and I鈥檝e filled about half of them.鈥�
dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
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