The U Sports national football semifinals are set for Saturday, and two former West Ferris Trojans will be starting for their respective teams, one playing in the Uteck Bowl in Montreal and the other in the Mitchell Bowl in Vancouver.
Jay Turnsek, a four-year starter at defensive back with the St. Francis Xavier X-Men, travels west to take on the UBC Thunderbirds with a berth in the Vanier Cup at stake. Last week, Turnsek and the X-Men defeated the Bishop Gaiters to win their third straight Loney Bowl. The Gaiters were led by another former Trojan, quarterback Mason McGriskin.
Turnsek and McGriskin were both three-year starters with the Trojans, winning NDA championships in 2016, ‘17 and ‘18. The 2017 team was also crowned the NOSSA champions.
Turnsek also counts two former Algonquin Barons as teammates in Powassan natives James and David McGill.
See related: Turnsek wins Hall of Fame award for football
See also: Former Trojan wins university football award
AJ Williamson is the starting punter for the OUA champion Western Mustangs who will travel east to take on the Montreal Carabins in the other national semifinal.
Williamson was a punter and a wide receiver for the 2019 Trojan team that won the NDA championship. Before kicking with the Mustangs, Williamson was the kicker for the London Beefeaters of the CJFL and was named that league's national outstanding special teams player of the year.
See: West Ferris rallies to beat Scollard Hall in wild NDA championship game
Mark Robertson, as the senior Trojans head coach, played an important role in the development of Turnsek and Williamson when they were dominating the local high school loop.
“It’s always exciting when you have former players make it to the next level, but to have one each in the national semifinals is really special. The two of them deserve all the success they get; they both work so hard,” Roberson tells BayToday.
Uteck Bowl coverage begins at noon on Saturday as Dunsmore Cup champs, the Montréal Carabins host the OUA champion Western Mustangs.
The Mitchell Bowl will follow as Hardy Cup winners, the UBC Thunderbirds welcome the St. FX X-Men to Vancouver.
The Uteck and Mitchell Bowls will be broadcast on CBC Gem and CBCSports.ca, with broadcasts in French available on TVA Sports and the TVA+ digital platform.
