Sports stats



CFL B.C. Lions

BC Lions Sign: QB Scott McEwan/Draft Pick Paul Cheng/Cornerback Toure Butler /WR Darrick Branch

May 16, 2002 - Canadian Football League (CFL)
B.C. Lions News Release


VANCOUVER, B.C. May 16, 2002 - BC Lions General Manager, Adam Rita, today announced the signing of Quarterback Scott McEwan. In keeping with team policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

"Scott is an excellent club prospect," said Head Coach Steve Buratto. "He didn't play as much as he wanted to at UCLA. I had the opportunity to watch him play in an all star game and he has all the skills necessary to be a professional quarterback."

McEwan, 23, a 6'1" 200-pound native of Thousand Oaks, California, will make his professional debut with the BC Lions at training camp after playing for the UCLA Bruins for two years. In the 2001 season, McEwan played backup pivot in 7 games starting one and passed for 594 yards. He was selected to play in the 2001 Paradise Bowl, where he was coached by BC Lions Offensive Coordinator Dave Arslanian. "He was very effective in the Paradise Bowl and led the team to scores every possession he had," said Arslanian. "Scott brought the team back from a 16-point deficit with five minutes left in the game. And he won the game in overtime."

As a redshirt junior in the 2000 season, he appeared in two games. In an appearance at the Fresno State contest, he completed five of ten passing yards and directed two fourth-quarter touchdown drives. In the Sun Bowl against Wisconsin, McEwan played in the second quarter and completed twelve of eighteen passes for 135 yards. From 1997 to 1999, McEwan played at Oregon State.

McEwan patterns his play after former UCLA and Dallas Cowboy star quarterback Troy Aikman. He attended Thousand Oaks High School, where he was selected to PrepStar All-American and SuperPrep All-Far West Team. He holds a high school record for throwing 2,180 yards and 14 touchdowns as a senior.

Since 1954, the BC Lions have been Vancouver's premier professional football team, appearing in seven Grey Cup Championships and winning four. Community Pride is the BC Lions commitment to excellence on the football field and in the Lower Mainland community. In the 2002 season, the team will play mid-week home games in the summer and Friday home games beginning in the fall at Vancouver's landmark BC Place Stadium located adjacent to the Sky Train. For 2002 season tickets call 604-589-ROAR (7627) or log onto www.bclions.com.

BC LIONS SIGN 2002 DRAFT PICK PAUL CHENG

VANCOUVER, B.C. May 16, 2002 - BC Lions General Manager, Adam Rita, today announced the signing of Defensive End Paul Cheng. In keeping with team policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

The 23-year-old is a graduate of Simon Fraser University and demonstrated impressive strength during the CFL evaluation camp bench pressing 225 lbs 31 times.

Paul Cheng - Simon Fraser
DL 6'3" - 275 lbs.
Born: August 4, 1978

The economics major from Downsview, ON had a great 2001 season for the Clan. Here are Paul's stats which resulted in him being named a 2001 NAIA Honourable Mention All-American: 9 games, 10 unassisted tackles, 21 assisted tackles, 11.5 tackles for a loss for 68 yards, 7 sacks for 54 yards.

BC LIONS SIGN CORNERBACK TOURE BUTLER

VANCOUVER, B.C. May 16, 2002 - BC Lions General Manager, Adam Rita, today announced the signing of cornerback and kick returner Toure Butler. In keeping with team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

"Toure Butler is an explosive kick returner," said Head Coach Steve Buratto. "He possesses great speed and has all the tools that a cornerback needs."

Butler, a 5'9" 170-pound native of Everett, Washington, makes his CFL debut after six years at the University of Washington. He is a year removed from his last playing time; he spent the 2001 season as a Husky cornerback coach while completing his degree in Sociology. In Butler's only season on the UW coaching staff, the Huskies went 8-4, including a 47-43 loss to Texas in the Holiday Bowl.

After redshirting the 1996 season, Butler's role was largely restricted to returning kicks in his freshman year, though he did see limited action at the cornerback position. Statistically, Butler's best college season was 1998. He led the Huskies in kickoff returns, and ranked 6th in the NCAA, bringing back 22 balls for 626 yards, an average of 28.5 yards per return. On Sept. 10, 1998 against BYU, Butler returned a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown, the third longest kick return in school history. He also recovered a fumble and ran 35 yards for a touchdown, and was named ABC Sports' Player of the Game. During the 1998 season, Butler started all 11 regular-season games at cornerback for UW, and made 52 tackles during that time.

Butler suffered a knee injury before the start of the 1999 season, and missed the entire year as a result. But Toure returned for his senior year in 2000-01, and helped the Huskies to their first Rose Bowl victory since 1992.

For 2002 season tickets call 604-589-ROAR (7627) or log onto www.bclions.com.

BC LIONS SIGN WIDE RECEIVER DARRICK BRANCH

VANCOUVER, B.C. May 16, 2002 - BC Lions General Manager, Adam Rita, today announced the signing of wide receiver and kick returner Darrick Branch. In keeping with team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

"Darrick is veteran. He has played in four different professional leagues, and he will bring a wealth of experience to our receiving core," said Head Coach Steve Buratto.

Branch, a 6'0" 195-pound native of Dallas, Texas, makes his return to the CFL after seven years away from Canada. He spent the last three seasons with the Buffalo Destroyers of the Arena Football League; during that time he caught 157 passes for 1994 yards and 29 touchdowns. Last season in 11 games for Buffalo, Branch had 36 receptions for 421 yards and eight touchdowns. Aside from his receiving duties, Branch also has considerable experience as a kick returner. During his three years in the AFL, he brought back 82 kicks for 1576 yards, an average of over 19 yards a return. Three of those kickoffs he returned for touchdowns.

Branch graduated from the University of Hawaii in 1993, and was drafted in the 8th round (220th overall) by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After being released, he was signed by the Toronto Argonauts, and averaged over 20-yards per kick return in limited action. He spent the 1994 and 1995 seasons in Toronto as well, and saw his playing time, and his numbers increase. In 1995 he caught 20 passes for 367 yards and two touchdowns. For his efforts he was invited to the San Francisco 49ers training camp.

Prior to his three years in the AFL, Branch spent the 1996 and 1997 seasons on the Denver Broncos practice roster, before playing for the Frankfurt Galaxy of NFL Europe in the spring of 1998.

For 2002 season tickets call 604-589-ROAR (7627) or log onto www.bclions.com.

Check out the B.C. Lions Statistics



Canadian Football League Stories from May 16, 2002


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central