Cochrane quarterback Xavier Vaillancourt may have finished his bantam career with the Cochrane Lions in the fall, but he continues to see high level play before he enters the ranks of high school football.

The 14-year-old, 6'1" player is one of the two quarterbacks selected to anchor the south team in the  Alberta Bantam Bowl on the May 22, following a three-day tryout in early April.

Word of him making the roster came when Vaillancourt  was in class at Cochrane High.

"My dad phoned me and gave me the news and I was pretty excited," says Vaillancourt.

It's not the only select team he has made this season and at the Bantam Bowl he will playing with teammates from the Calgary Selects and Zone 2 Alberta Summer Games teams.

Vaillancourt has been playing football since atoms and made the switch to quarterback from safety after the first year and it seems to have been a natural fit.

"I loved being a leader on the field and always having the ball in my hands," says Vaillancourt. "I could throw the ball pretty well back then so it was a good position for me."

He best defines himself as a pocket passer and utlizes his strong arm to deliver accurate passes. With Vaillancourt's help, the Bantam Lions were known for their strong passing game in an age group that relies heavily upon a run playbook.

Despite his prowess on the turf, football isn't Vaillancourt's only sport. He also plays hockey and the Cochrane Crush baseball season is just underway.. Still, his passion for football is something he hopes to be able to pursue right through to the university level.

"I want to keep playing football," says Vaillancourt. "Hopefully I can play for the Cobras and, if I'm lucky, play for a university team.

In December, Vaillancourt showcased his talent by leading the Calgary Selects team to two wins in the All-Star Youth Football Tournament in Langley, B.C., downing both the Langley and Vancouver Island entries. He was also named to the Calgary Bantam Football Association's all-star team, joining fellow Lions offensive teammates Elijah Springer and runningback Derek Reid. Vaillancourt was also part of the zone 2 team in last summer's Alberta Summer Games.

The Bantam Bowl is a showcase of the best graduating grade 9 players in an all-star format and is held every other year. The game itself follows two days of camps and also includes an awards banquet.

Lions Bantam coach Paul Vaillancourt says the Lions are proud of the seven players who tried out for the team.