Hero Kanneh knows both sides of the ball
Kanneh's performance in win over Elks resonates as Redblacks return to practice
The Ottawa Redblacks' man of the hour really did play both sides of the line of scrimmage back in his college days with the New Mexico Highlands University Cowboys.
Last Saturday night in Edmonton, Abdul Kanneh only appeared to be back playing offence and defence, scoring the game's only touchdown while helping on the game-saving tackle at the Redblacks' one to preserve a 16-12 win in the season opener against the Elks.
His performance was still resonating as the Redblacks returned to practice Wednesday for one of just two workouts in their first bye week, before taking on Saskatchewan a week Saturday.
“Yes, yes,” said Kanneh. “I mean, many times, I mean, back in the States I didn't play one side. I played both sides of the ball.”
Kanneh even likened his performance in Edmonton to one particular game in college when his club jumped a weight class and went head-to-head with a Division I power in Southern Utah University. New Mexico would have been prohibitive underdogs, playing in the Division II Lone Star Conference against schools such as Fort Lewis College, Colorado School of Mines and Tarleton State.
That's hardly Auburn, Alabama or USC. But Kanneh remembers his biggest game — until Saturday night, that is — personally.
“I hadn't had a game like this one since I played Southern Utah University,” Kanneh said. “They were D -I. First half, I had two interceptions for two touchdowns, actually. Umm, so it's nothing new.
“It's just always, you know, (something) every player dreams of, you know, being that guy to help a team win and put a team in that position so when the opportunity came, you know … I took it and ran into the house.
“Nothing special, just trying to make points for my team.”
Nothing special, huh? It is when the Redblacks' offence didn't register a first down until well into the second quarter after seven straight series of two (plays) and out; got Lewis Ward into range to kick three field goals, albeit two of them from outside of 50 yards; and had a league-low for Week 1 of 127 yards total offence — 71 yards passing and 56 on the ground.
The Redblacks don't award game balls, but they should. The defence might have earned one each.
At last report, there was no run on No. 14 jerseys, the number Kanneh wears, but if he keeps up the pace some imaginative Southsiders might soon be spotted with long dreadlocks, as Kanneh has had for years.
And on the game-saving tackle, assisted by linebacker Avery Williams, who played like a second coming of say, Angelo Snipes?
“We weren't worried at all,” Kanneh said.
“All camp, we've been working on these types of situations, so any time we were in a situation like that we already knew what to do. Stay calm, stay collected and when the play comes, play fast and finish the play.
“Just keep going until the whistle is blown. No panicking. Nobody was scared. We were just ready to get off the field and get the W.”
It’s just always, you know, (something) every player dreams of, you know, being that guy to help a team win.