Ken Henry - Vancouver Sun
Tuesday, October 18, 200

VMFL Kids Inking Nice Deals
Universities Taking Note Of VMFL Kids Graduating Stars Inking Nice Deals

For a kid who loved football and had dreams of going pro, Ben Catto's options were rather limited growing up in Sooke. Neither of the town's two high schools had football teams -- and that meant Catto wouldn't get to play. Or so he thought. "I was sort of bummed there wasn't a high school team," said Catto, now 18. "Then my friend got me into community ball. It was great for me -- one of the best things that could have happened."

Catto joined the Colwood Warriors peewee team in the fall of 1998, and hasn't looked back. He became one of Colwood's best receivers and linebackers shortly after he began playing, and in 2002 was captain of the bantam Warriors team that finished second in the provincial championships. The strong season spurred Catto to work even harder to attain his goal of playing in the CFL. It also prompted postsecondary institutions to take note of the 6-foot-5, 210-pounder.

McMaster University took a particular interest during Catto's first two years in the Vancouver Mainland Football League's midget division, and in April they announced he had officially committed to play for them. So instead of playing his third and final year of midget this season, Catto is wearing Marauder red and silver. "It feels awesome," said Catto, who hasn't played in a game yet this season but will be a key player for McMaster in the coming years. "Sometimes I can't believe I'm already here. It's been great so far."

Catto says there is a myth among teenaged players that the only way to get recruited by a postsecondary institution is by playing high school football, but he's proof that isn't the case. "I wouldn't have gotten to play football at all without the VMFL," said Catto, referring to the lack of a high school program in Sooke. "[Playing in the VMFL] is how I got noticed. I sent the film of those games to different universities, and what they saw in those games made them recruit me. "The VMFL is a good league. I think people are taking notice."

They must be, because Catto isn't the only midget star from last season who's been scooped up by a university. Former Cloverdale Bengal Brandon Willetts is Stanford University's starting linebacker; North Delta's Eric Fraser is a receiver with Central Michigan University; White Rock's Doug Goldsby and Nate D'Arcy are with the University of B.C.; and the list goes on and on.

"There's been some great kids come out of [the VMFL] in the last year or two," said UBC head coach Lou DesLauriers, who's pleased he was able to land receiver D'Arcy and quarterback Goldsby. "It's definitely a league we look to and recruit from. There's a lot of skill out there."

As for Catto, he's just focusing on working hard for the Marauders and keeping his grades up. He believes he'll be a go-to guy for them in the coming years. In turn, he's hopeful that'll mean a shot at the CFL.

"I can't even describe how that would feel," said Catto, adding, "If it does happen, I'll have to remember where I got my start."