LEXINGTON, Va. - Former VMI back Tim Maypray '10 was featured on Friday's ESPN SportsCenter Top 10 plays for his action in Thursday night's Montreal Alouettes-Saskatchewan Roughriders game.
Maypray returned a missed field goal 125 yards for a Montreal touchdown during the second half of the CFL season opener, won by Saskatchewan in a wild 54-51 shootout.
Maypray also finished his first CFL regular season game by returning five kicks for 118 yards with a long of 31 yards, and also returned a punt 12 yards.
Maypray's dynamic touchdown return was also shown on ESPN's Sports Nation which aired on Friday afternoon on ESPN 2.
Reporting to the Alouettes camp in June after VMI Commencement ceremonies the previous month, Maypray impressed on-lookers north of the border with the same return skills he displayed during his four-year at the Institute. While at VMI, Maypray was named All-Big South Conference at four different positions (kick returner, punt returner, quarterback, receiver) and was voted the 2009 Big South Preseason Player of the Year.
It was Maypray's dynamic punt and kick return talent that advanced him to the next level. In 2009, he led the Big South in punt returns with a 12.9 average and also returned 16 punts which was tops in the conference. Maypray returned a punt 86 yards for a touchdown against Gardner-Webb October 3 which was the second longest in school history and third longest in Foster Stadium history. It was also VMI's first punt return for a touchdown in nine seasons. The punt return for TD also made Maypray the only active player in FCS history to account for a touchdown in rushing, passing, receiving, returning a kickoff, and returning a punt.
In an e-mail sent to vmikeydets.com this week, Maypray expressed excitement and optimism as he approached his first professional football season.
"It feels really great to be on this team," said the Madisonville, Kentucky native. "There are a lot of good players and a lot of veterans. I'm just excited to be one of the few rookies to play for the Montreal Alouettes."
Maypray also acknowledged in preparing for the CFL that he talked to VMI all-time leading rusher Thomas Haskins '97, who played for both the Alouettes and Edmonton Eskimos for six seasons.
"I did talk to Thomas Haskins a few times before I left for Canada," said Maypray. "He was a lot of help as well as VMI assistant coaches Winston October [receivers] and Paul Soltis [linebackers] who both played professionally."
October also played for both Montreal and Edmonton of the CFL and Soltis played for the Sacramento Surge in the World League.
Montreal's next 2010 game will be Sunday, July 11 at Edmonton. Kickoff will be 7:00 Eastern.
The NFL Network will show the following CFL games involving Montreal in the United States. Check your local cable or satellite provider for listings and availability in your area.
Friday, September 24 - Montreal at Winnipeg- 8 PM ET
Friday, October 1 - Montreal at Calgary - 9 PM ET
Friday, October 22 - Montreal at Hamilton - 7 PM ET
Friday, October 29 - Montreal at Toronto - 7 PM ET
CFL games are also streamed live online in the U.S. on ESPN3.
