Evans trying to add first Grey Cup to mantle

CFL.ca Staff

CALGARY — Hamilton Tiger-Cats quarterback Dane Evans is no stranger to the big stages of football. While still at the University of Tulsa, he was a part of three bowl games, two of them being wins.

“I won a National Championship in Pop Warner for football in fifth grade,” Evans said following the Ticats’ first practice on Wednesday. “That was a pretty big game for a 12-year-old. We won 15-14 — real barnburner.”

Now, the 25-year-old finds himself on the biggest stage yet: leading one of the two teams vying for the 107th Grey Cup presented by Shaw on Sunday.

This wasn’t a position that Evans was expecting to be in at the start of the 2019 campaign, however, it’s position he now finds himself in. Following a season-ending injury to starter Jeremiah Masoli against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers back in Week 7, Evans was thrust into the starter’s role. At one point, Evans wasn’t sure what his future was in football, but the decision to head to The Hammer has been a fruitful one.

“I had an opportunity with the Philadelphia Eagles, but I didn’t make it through training camp and got released at the end. Then I was at a crossroads,” Evans said. “I knew when I was done playing I wanted to coach, but I knew in my heart that I wasn’t done playing then. I’ve always had an eye on the CFL and Hamilton gave me a chance. I knew I wanted to keep playing so I came up here.”

He’s now one of the biggest names on a team filled with talent. Alongside MOP nominee Brandon Banks, Evans has helped the Ticats’ high-powered offence soar all the way to Calgary. To some, it may have come as a surprise to see the pivot step in and immediately contribute, but his teammates knew exactly who they were getting under centre.

“I’m not surprised because of the guy and who he is. Obviously, we know who he is — because he’s been here in previous years. I always knew what kind of a guy Dane was but he’s a professional athlete at the same time,” Banks said of his quarterback. “Obviously he was ready when his number was called. He’s a gunslinger and everyone knows his history and knows what he could do on the field, he just needed the opportunity.

“His number got called probably earlier than he expected and he took advantage of the opportunity.”

During the regular season, Evans threw for 3,754 yards and 21 touchdowns while dressing for all 18 games in 2019. In the Eastern Final, he outduelled Trevor Harris, completing 21 of 36 passes for 386 yards and a touchdown. He also contributed to the defining play of the game, as he chucked a ball up while on the run to Banks, who was streaking down the right sideline. The star receiver fully extended, making a diving catch that saw him slide into the end zone for the touchdown.

The Tabbies have experienced some injury trouble at different positions throughout the year. Despite that, the team was able to finish with a league-best 15-3 record and the East Division crown. Linebacker Simoni Lawrence chalked it up to the mentality of the team.

“We prepared for it since training camp because Coach Orlonodo did a great job of saying that there’s going to be things that happen,” Lawrence said. “A quarterback might get hurt, a linebacker might get hurt, running back might get hurt. It just has to be next man up and that’s why we use everybody.

“Everybody is so important and driven and we always preach that at any given time, you could be in the game and you have to perform at that level or better.”

Next up for Evans and the Tabbies’ offence is the Bombers, who boast Most Outstanding Defensive Player Willie Jefferson, as well as former MODP Adam Bighill, and Winston Rose — who had a league-best nine interceptions this season. It’ll be a battle for the ages and Evans will be trying to add another trophy to his case while breaking Hamilton’s Grey Cup drought.

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