By Rob Vanstone,
Regina Leader-Post
Luca Congi is not an official member of the Riffel Royals’ coaching staff.
However, tutelage provided by the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ kicker has helped the Royals — and Roman Doutkevitch in particular — enjoy a strong season in the Regina Intercollegiate Football League.
Congi and Doutkevitch are both rookie kickers. Congi was named the Roughriders’ top freshman this season. Doutkevitch, an accomplished soccer player, did not join the Royals’ football team until Grade 12.
“When I first started, I was a field-goal kicker,” Doutkevitch said. “I didn’t know how to punt.
“(Congi) helped me to punt and to kick the ball straight. I used to be able to punt 20 yards. With him helping me, I’m able to punt 40 yards.”
Doutkevitch’s leg strength is also evident on field-goal attempts. He nailed a 43-yarder in Riffel’s 47-0 Schwann Conference semifinal victory over the Balfour Redmen. Not only that, he had the necessary distance on a wind-aided 57-yarder, only to have the ball go wide left.
“He’s got a lot of raw power and he’s pretty accurate, so I just gave him a couple of drills to straighten out the leg swing so the ball can even be more accurate,” Congi said. “I think he has been coming along really well.”
The Royals’ roster includes all-star defensive back Josh Barrett, whose father Danny is the Roughriders’ head coach. That connection led to a request for Congi to help out with the Royals. He happily complied.
“The coach asked me and I said, ‘Sure,’ ” Congi said. “It was supposed to be a one-time thing. Then I said, ‘If you guys need me, just let me know. I’ll come whenever. I have quite a bit of free time.’ They said, ‘Sure, we’ll try to do it once a week.’ ”
Doutkevitch is delighted with Congi’s accommodating nature.
“It makes me feel more confident when a guy like that is able to help me,” Doutkevitch said. “He says I have potential. He makes me feel good and makes me think about going to university and playing as a kicker.”
