Crusaders’ football star captures Harry Hood award

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This article was published 04/12/2002 (8646 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

DONOVAN Alexander recalls begging his parents to let him play organized football when he was eight years old.

“They were against it because they thought it would be too dangerous at that age,” says the winner of the 2002 Harry Hood Award, presented to the Winnipeg high school football player best demonstrating outstanding athletic skill, community service and scholastic achievement in Manitoba.

Alexander, a two-way player for the St. Paul’s High School Crusaders the past three years, was granted permission to play the following year when he joined the Charleswood Broncos atom team in the Pop Warner football program.

“His athletic ability is limitless. Donovan has the potential to go a long way,” says Crusaders’ head coach Stacey Dainard, noting that Alexander, who maintains an 83 per cent academic average, has run an “incredible” 4.35 second 40-yard dash (a standard test used to measure a football player’s speed).

“This year he was one of our team leaders and a very good weapon for us,” says Dainard. “He started in Grade 10 as a defensive back with the task of covering our opponent’s best receiver, and he’s done that the past three years. In Grade 11 he also returned kicks and did a great job. This year he did the same and also played some receiver for us.”

He adds that Alexander, a high school all-star this season, was also voted the top high school player this year by a panel of judges headed by league commissioner Ron Gustafson.

“Last year, I also had a very a good season and was named our team’s MVP and rated as the fifth best player in the league,” says Alexander.

Alexander is also a top track athlete, having placed fourth in both the 100 and 200 metres with times of 10.92 and 22.26 seconds, respectively, in the juvenile category at the Legion National Track and Field Championships, which were held in August in Sherbrooke, Que. He also placed second in both events at the provincial high school championships last June.

Alexander mentions that when he first became a gridiron gladiator as a youngster, he played just about every position, including quarterback for a few games.

“Pretty much every year, I played many positions and frequently both ways,” says the 6-foot, 170-pounder, adding that he was on one city championship winning team in Pop Warner football.

For his Grade 10 year, Alexander transferred from St. John’s-Ravenscourt School to St. Paul’s because, as he observes, both of his older brothers had gone there and it was close to home.

“I was looking for a different experience,” says Alexander, who scored two touchdowns this year, including one on a kickoff return.

“I didn’t have any intention of trying out for the team (that first year), and then I received a phone call from (former St. Paul’s head coach) Mike Watson. He had heard I played football before and asked me to come for a tryout. I went out and made the team and performed really well in our exhibition game, and I ended up a starter. In my first game against Churchill (high school), I had an interception for a touchdown.”

St. Paul’s went on to the championship game that season, losing 19-18 to the rival Oak Park Raiders, who have now defeated the Crusaders in the provincial championship the past three seasons. Earlier this month, Oak Park stormed back from a 14-point deficit with seven minutes left in the game to top St. Paul’s 37-34 for the league title.

“I knew we were a better team and should have won. But they came back to win,” says Alexander, adding that he loves the physical challenge and adrenaline rush from playing football.

“It bothers me not to have won a provincial championship. We were there three times and were beaten by the same team. It would have been nice to have won. I would trade the Harry Hood for a championship ring.”

Alexander will now turn his attention to deciding where he will suit up next season. Coaches from several schools in the U.S. and Canada have expressed interest in having him join their football program next year.

Alexander adds that his parents will have some say in which school he attends.

“But the final decision is mine.”

He doesn’t have to beg to play football anymore.