A Holy Trinity Academy Knight has put an exclamation mark on his outstanding high school football career.
Knights running back Ryder Stone was named the Most Valuable Player for the South in its 31-19 victory over the North in the annual Senior Bowl at Calgary’s McMahon Stadium on May 20.
“I had about 48 yards rushing on 10 carries and I didn’t break off any real big ones,” Stone said. “But I had about 100 yards with punt and kick-off returns.”
Stone also found the end zone for the South. It was Stone who put the South up for good with a 16-yard reception from Notre Dame high school quarterback Brett Hunchak.
The Holy Trinity Academy (HTA) running back nearly had another touchdown but he was overthrown in the end zone. He also had a kick return of approximately 40 yards.
“I wasn’t even supposed to run it back — there were two of us back there and I called the other guy off,” Stone said with a chuckle. “I was able to find a hole and I didn’t stop until I got pushed out of bound at around the (North’s) 50-yard line.”
Stone said a highlight of playing in an all-star game is a chance to rub shoulders with guys he is used to playing against.
One of those guys he played with was Foothills Falcon quarterback Taylor Armsworthy.
“We had a couple of series together,” Stone said. “It was fun — we’re friends even though we play for rival schools.”
Stone said he thought he had a strong game but was still surprised when he was named the South’s MVP.
He said the honour took a lot of sting out of his final game as a Holy Trinity Academy Knight, a 30-1 loss to the Rundle College Cobras in the Big Rock final.
He’s been proud to carry the pigskin and his school books at HTA.
The Stones moved to the Springbank area in December, but there was no way he was going to transfer schools.
“I really wanted to finish my school here,” Stone said. “It’s a great school.”
He put up some great numbers. The five-foot-10, 210-pound Stone ran for more than 1,200 yards for the Knights in 2013 and he was runner-up to Armsworthy for the Big Rock MVP.
Stone’s achievements on the gridiron are surpassed by his efforts in the classroom.
He has 90-plus average in this his senior year.
He has accepted a scholarship to attend an elite prep school, Phillips Academy, in Andover, Massachusetts in the fall.
“I have always put academics over athletics because you need the academics to fall back on,” Stone said.
He said just like HTA, Andover excels both academically and athletically. Stone described Phillips as a Grade 13 for high school — preparing high academic students for the rigors of post-secondary school.
“I think playing there (at Phillips) will give me some exposure to Division I (NCAA) schools and Ivy League schools,” Stone said.
Stone lived in Texas prior to moving to the foothills area six years ago. The dual citizen said it has always been one of his dreams to play American college football.
HTA coach Matt Hassett attended the Senior Bowl and said his star running back was deserving of the MVP award.
He added nobody should be surprised at what Stone achieves.
“I think it shows how hard work and dedication pays off,” Hassett said. “I think Ryder and Charlie Power are the two hardest workers we have ever had here.”
Power was an elite linebacker with the Knights and was recently signed by the Calgary Stampeders where he will get a chance to play fullback.
However, Stone isn’t quite done yet as a Knight.
He competed in four events at the South Central Zone track and field meet on May 28.
