NORTH DELTA — There's an previous adage in sports activities that there's no “I” in a crew, and nobody lives by that creed greater than Seaquam's Christian Carlon-Diaz.
Try the star working again on the Seahawks' roster, which is a part of the official bchighschoolfootball.com web site, and has been lacking the “I” from his first title for the previous three seasons.
“All the things is ok,” the dynamic, 6-foot-10, 185-pound senior explains over the telephone throughout his lunch break earlier this week. “Nevertheless it's 'Christian,' not 'Christian.'
Sure, Christian, like Christian McCaffrey, and whereas he doesn't carry fairly the identical energy because the Carolina Panthers working again, he nonetheless has the identical impression on the BC highschool degree this season.
By 5 video games heading into Saturday's mammoth AAA East showdown at Sunshine Hills in opposition to the visiting and favored Lord Tweedsmuir Panthers of Surrey, Carlon-Diaz has carried 67 instances for 668 yards, averaging 134 yards per recreation and 9.97 yards per carry. finish zone eight instances.
And whereas solely Jalem Catlin, the Abbotsford Panthers' senior star within the Triple A floor race, has complete yards, crucial a part of Carlon-Diaz's numbers is the truth that they most precisely replicate the fashion and angle of this 2019 Seahawks, crew. constructed offensively across the chemistry, cohesion and coachability of its offense.
“I really like the sensation when your offensive line makes an incredible gap and also you simply hit it and get into the top zone,” mentioned Carlon-Diaz, 17. “And for me, it's an incredible second as a result of all of us drove collectively to succeed, so cheering with them, with the blokes who shield me, it's very particular.'
Like we mentioned, perhaps there actually is not any “I” in Christian.
A NEW CRIMINAL OFFENSE WILL FIND ITS FLOW
Seahawks head coach Navin Chand made about as main a employees addition as any in BC highschool soccer in the course of the offseason, bringing in Kevin Phillips to change into the crew's new offensive coordinator and co-head coach.
Followers will little doubt bear in mind Phillips' 2009 crew at Coquitlam's Centennial Secondary, the place he elevated the crew's offense to a brand new degree by quarterbacking the crew's greatest general athlete, present BC Lions vast receiver Lemar Durant.
Durant's capacity to learn and react together with the excellence of working again Nehemiah Kankolongo proved to be a dynamite duo, and every participant rushed for greater than 200 yards that season within the Triple A Subway Bowl title win over WJ Mouat.
A full decade later, the 2019 Seahawks aren't designed to the identical specs because the 2009 Centaurs, but Phillips helped deliver a brand new id to the fore.
Left guard Evan Rawlick, left guard Angad Grewal, middle Ishaan Chand, proper guard Siraj Dhaliwal and proper sort out Jaskirat Sanghera have adopted new schemes related to the transfer to a extra zone-based philosophy this season, as has the remainder of the balanced offense. highlighted by Carlon-Diaz and fellow RB Justin Eng, quarterback Jay Mather and receiver Brandon Johnson.
In final Saturday's 28-14 league win over Terry Fox, Carlon-Diaz confirmed how comfy he has change into within the new offense about 5 video games into the season, dashing 25 instances for 302 yards and three touchdowns. On the day, Seaquam totaled 539 yards of complete offense.
HOW TO PLAY 'TEAMMATE'
Like Carlon-Diaz about his journey and he’ll let you know that he was filled with self-doubt at instances. Currently, although, he's had an empowering feeling each time he takes Mather's hand.
“I used to be stopping and working to the facet,” he says. “Rising up as a little bit boy, I used to be scared as a result of I wasn't certain about so many issues. And I used to be a crazy-hyper child who simply left with out studying his pads.
“However as I began to take it to the following degree, I developed my mindset,” he continued. “Now I'm studying and dealing on getting proper into the top zone. One fast minimize and go. I've all the time had pace and acceleration, however now I'm working full pace and pondering positively.”
Provides Chand, “In our final recreation, he was doing one thing he hadn't performed till the previous couple of video games, which was working between guys and going over obstacles.”
Leaning on previous Seaquam greats at working again like Jalen Philpot and Mark Lego and taking every thing he discovered from his teaching employees, Carlon-Diaz fulfilled the excessive varsity potential he confirmed as a JV expertise.
In fact, its versatility is simply as spectacular.
Taking part in at cornerback in a protection led by teammate and star middle again Eng, Carlon-Diaz got here up with a pair of saves in final week's win over Terry Fox.
“To be trustworthy, I simply love taking part in soccer,” he says when requested if his future is extra offensive than defensive. “I haven't even discovered what my important place is.
However the perfect a part of all of it is to understand the entire footballer he has change into.
So go forward and spell Christian Carlon-Diaz's title all you need… the one factor they’ll ever right you on is the truth that there isn’t a “I” within the crew.
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