NOTES: Rourke picked in CFL Draft;
COMBINED REPORTS
Former Edgewood Academy and Ohio University starter Nathan Rourke was selected with the 15th overall pick in the second round of the 2020 Canadian Football League Draft by the British Columbia Lions in Vancouver.
Rourke stepped in as the Wildcats’ starting quarterback in 2015 and led Bobby Carr’s Edgewood squad to the Alabama Independent School Association’s Class AA state championship with a 13-0 record.
Rourke becomes the sixth local player to sign a professional contract, joining former Robert E. Lee star Henry Ruggs (Raiders); Marlon Davidson (Falcons), who played briefly at Carver; former Edgewood Academy and Auburn lineman Prince Tega Wanogho (Eagles); Ruggs’ former high school teammate, Auburn defensive back Daniel Thomas (Jaguars); and former Montgomery Academy standout Josh Thomas (Bills), a free-agent signee out of Appalachian State.
Rourke was the No. 7 ranked prospect in the spring edition of the CFL Scouting Bureau. He is the second Bobcat selected in the CFL draft after the Hamilton Tiger-Cats selected Rourke's former teammate, running back Maleek Irons, with the 22nd overall pick in the third round of the 2019 CFL Draft. Rourke was the first quarterback off the board and the CFL's highest-drafted quarterback since Jesse Palmer went 15th to the Montreal Alouettes in 2001.
“So excited to join a franchise such as BC,” Rourke tweeted when he learned of the news. “I was born in Victoria, have family all over BC so I was a Lion fan growing up. Dream come true! Can’t wait to get started!”
Rourke finished his three-year career at Ohio with a record of 24-13 as starting quarterback and was under center for an unprecedented three-straight bowl victories. He ranks first in program history in career touchdowns scored (51), touchdowns responsible for (111), total offense yards gained (10,091), total offense yards per play (7.65), total offense yards per game (258.7), passing yards per attempt (8.3), passing yards per game (191.2) and passing efficiency (146.5) and is tied for first in rushing touchdowns (49).
He owns program single-season records for points scored (132; 2017), touchdowns scored (22; 2017), touchdowns responsible for (39; 2017), total offense yards per play (8.07; 2018), total offense yards per game (283.6; 2018), most passing yards per attempt (tied; 8.9; 2018), high passing efficiency (156.3; 2018) and rushing touchdowns (21; 2017).
Rourke was the inaugural winner (2017-18) of the Jon Cornish Trophy, which is awarded annually to the most outstanding Canadian player in NCAA Football and repeated as the winner in 2018-19. He was named one of five finalists for the award last month.
The BC Lions are coming off of a 2019 campaign in which they went 5-13 and finished last in the CFL's West Division. The Lions will enter their first season under the leadership of head coach Rick Campbell in 2020.
Pike Road’s Thomas signs with ASU
Tamirea Thomas became the first girls’ basketball signee in Pike Road history when she signed a letter of intent to play for Alabama State.
ASU coach Freda Freeman-Jackson announced the first addition to her 2020-21 signing class on Tuesday.
Thomas spent her early career at Jeff Davis before joining the Pike Road squad for its inaugural season in 2019. The Patriots advanced to the finals of the Southeast Regional at Garrett Coliseum before falling to Montgomery Academy, then avenged that loss in a 2020 rematch to advance to the state tournament in Birmingham.
The 6-foot-3 center teamed with Sakoya Knight to give the Patriots a formidable inside attack. Thomas averaged 12.7 points, 11.3 rebounds and 4.3 blocks per game this past season in leading Pike Road to a 28-5 record, losing to Pisgah 72-58 in the 3A semifinals.