MontrealAlouettes.com
As it turns out, Anthony Calvillo and Sean Whyte won’t be the only ones in the Alouettes’ locker room making history this season. Kerry Watkins is just one catch away from putting his own dent in the record books.
The next ball caught by the 32-year-old wide receiver will make him only the second Alouettes player to reach the 500 reception plateau. One more connection with Calvillo and Watkins will trail only his former teammate Ben Cahoon (1,017) on the team’s all-time list.
“My job as a receiver is to catch the ball. That’s what I get paid to do. Of course I take pride in my profession and how well I perform, but records and career stats are something that a player should enjoy only when he looks back on his career,” explained Watkins. “But sure, I remember my first catch in the CFL very vividly. It was against the Calgary Stampeders.”
Currently tied with former Als star Red O’Quinn with 499 catches, Watkins shares something else with the CFL Hall-of-Famer. While Watkins has had the luxury of being at the receiving end of Calvillo’s pinpoint passing since breaking in with the Als in 2004, O’Quinn did his damage with the help of none other than Als legendary pivot Sam “The Rifle” Etcheverry.
Just as impressive as Watkins’ pending date with destiny is how quickly he’s managed to get there. Now in only his eighth CFL season, Watkins would have reached No. 500 even sooner had he not been forced to sit out the first four games of the season with a sinus infection.
Unaware that he was even closing in a major milestone, Watkins has other concerns regarding his team’s key showdown with the Blue Bombers on Sunday afternoon at Percival Molson Stadium.
“My number one job is to help catapult this offense and this team into first place in our division. That’s the only thing that I’m concerned with at this point,” vowed Watkins. “I feel ready for a breakout game. I have been practicing really hard over the past three weeks in practice. But this is something that just happens. You can’t force the issue.”
