Gemmell earns national honour

Great players are the ones who step up and make big plays when the outcome of the game hangs in the balance.
Stratton native Jock Gemmell was recognized as one such player when he was named both the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) and Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) defensive football player of the week for Oct. 2-9.
Gemmell played a crucial role in helping the Mount Allison Mounties beat AUS rivals the St. Francis Xavier X-Men 24-18 for their first win in 34 games—a losing streak that spanned four years.
Playing in his preferred strong corner position for the first time this season, Gemmell was a dominant force, snaring two game-altering interceptions.
The first theft came late in the second quarter when Gemmell picked off an errant X-Men pass and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown to put the Mounties ahead.
But if Gemmell’s first interception is best described as a big play, then his second interception only can be labelled as huge.
With less than two minutes to play and the Mounties clinging to a slim six-point advantage, Gemmell stepped up and made the play of the day.
St. Francis, having driven the ball inside the Mountie 10-yard line, lined up looking to steal a late-game victory. The quarterback took the snap from center, dropped back, and tossed a jump ball pass into the corner of the end zone.
With the game on the line, the 6’1” inch Gemmell soared through the air, out-jumping the X-Men receiver to secure both the ball and the Mountie win.
Most people would expect the star of the game to be eager to discuss their role in such a dramatic victory.
But Gemmell, when reached by phone to discuss the game and his subsequent honours last week, preferred instead to talk about the team’s accomplishment.
“It felt really good,” he said of the victory.
“That was our first win in a long time and the team played really well together,” he added. “There’s been a few guys here with me that have been here all the way through and it’s been a very long time since we won a game.
“There’s also guys who’d been here four years who hadn’t won a game yet,” Gemmell noted. “It’s a much bigger win to me that everybody won a game rather than me winning an award.”
When pressed to comment on the individual recognition he had received, the ever-humble Gemmell admitted to being very surprised about winning defensive player of the week both within his conference and at the national level.
“I was kind of shocked,” he remarked.
“After the game, a lot of the guys were coming up to me and telling me ‘You’re going to win AUS defensive player of the week for sure with your game,’ but I wasn’t thinking about that at all.
“I was just out there playing and having fun,” he added.
“It’s a totally different thing when you’re winning games—or winning a game. You’re not thinking about your stats at all.”
But while Gemmell was not particularly comfortable discussing his personal achievements, those who know him were quick to take up the task.
Second-year Mount Allison head coach Steve Lalonde extolled Gemmell’s virtues both on and off the football field.
“He’s a great team player,” Lalonde said of the fifth-year computer science major.
“We’ve moved him around quite a bit this season due to some injuries and a lack of skill at certain positions,” he noted. “We’ve put him at corner and linebacker, and he’s never complained.
“He just goes out there and gives you 110 percent every time.”
Bob Swing, who was Gemmell’s head coach here with the Muskies, said the solid work ethic and positive personality of his former running back and linebacker are nothing new.
Swing said he was thrilled to learn Gemmell had been recognized on the national stage.
“He’s an unbelievable football player,” Swing said. “An unbelievable athlete. An unbelievable student. And he’s an even better person.
“I was ecstatic at hearing the news that he’d won that award.”
Gemmell and his Mount Allison teammates will look to extend their winning streak to two games this Saturday (Oct. 21) when they host Bishop’s University.