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July 30, 2018

Van Back In Gear, Ready To Pick Up Where He Left Off

Travon Van was helping make the training camp backfield puzzle very interesting until duty called back home. After strong showings in Kamloops and a touchdown reception in the club’s pre-season victory in Calgary on June 6th, Van returned to San Diego to attend to his mother Jeanette who is on dialysis.

“It was getting hard because my Dad is getting up there in age and my brother has his own family he’s trying to take care of,” explained the running back.

“It was three days per week and we were just trying to find a facility because the one she was at was kind of rough. I ended up going home, finding a new place with decent hours and that’s been really steady.”

With Brandon Rutley expected to miss an extended period of time with his knee injury, the timing was right for Van to head back up Interstate 5, re-join his teammates and try and pick up where he left off before the regular season started.

“I’m really excited to be back,” said Van.

“I just want to thank everyone in BC for the support and texts while I was at home taking care of my Mom. I couldn’t wait to get back with everybody and start playing again.

“Being with Jeremiah, Rainey and Rutley, they make you fit in really good. We all try to stay on one page, help each other learn and go out there and compete. We make each other better and I feel comfortable in this backfield. We have faith in everybody on this field.”

Jeremiah Johnson hopes to return for Saturday’s critical test in Calgary, the bye week coming at the perfect time to help him rest the ankle he rolled during a July 14th victory over Winnipeg. Number 24 is excited to have Van back in his position group.

“Juice! That’s my dog right there,” exclaimed Johnson.

“I played in Ottawa with him for a while, he’s a good friend and I’m always happy to see him back in the locker room. His overall personality is always a nice refreshing thing to kind of encounter every morning. It’s good to have him back, good to have another weapon in the backfield making up for Rutley’s injury and like I said, he’s going to do very well. He’s a fast guy, can read the holes very well, can catch out of the backfield and maybe help us out on special teams returning the ball on both kickoffs and punts. We’re going to get him back up to speed and let him rip.”

“It gives us a guy that knows the offence, fits in very nicely and will adapt very quickly,” added head coach Wally Buono.

“We’re very fortunate (to get him back) with an injury like we had with Brandon. He played well, he really attacked the hole hard and was exactly the kind of back that fits our offence.”

Van’s path to the CFL wasn’t unlike many Americans who had no previous exposure to the league. Many people envision growing up in San Diego as a full dose of beaches, surfing and sun. Van hails from the Southeast, a part of the city that very few outside of it will ever see.

“It was kind of in the rough part. It always had a lot of kids out there and we try to get them in the right program,” said Van.

“Sports and military are for sure the tickets out of there. We try to keep on the straight and narrow and do the right things.”

The neighbourhood produced many future NFL stars including Miami Dolphins receiver Kenny Stills, Arizona Cardinals defensive back Jamar Taylor and Baltimore Ravens safety Tony Jefferson. A handful of other youths from Van’s era went on to serve the country in various branches of the military.

“There were also a few that didn’t go down the right path,” explained the University of Montana product.

“Being in that culture you see different kinds of roads being travelled. You just try to take the right one.”

Van did just that and found himself in our nation’s capital in 2015. After 12 games spread over two seasons with the Redblacks, he racked up 352 all-purpose yards in six games with the Eskimos last season before landing back on his home coast as a free agent addition just prior to training camp. Now he’s itching for a chance to prove himself in this new-look offence and show he can be a nice compliment to both Johnson and Rainey.

“Those two guys are tough players. They do a lot for this team. We’ll see if they’re ready. If not, I’ll step up and be ready to go. I’m very excited. I had one taste in pre-season. I’m excited just to get out there, play with these guys, have fun and help the team win.”

Always a team guy first, he has already noticed a gradual improvement week in and week out.

“I’ve seen the effort and how far we’ve come as an offence, noticing those plays and watching them go out and execute them. We want the record to be better, but I know in time we’ll get there,” added Van.

And you know every step of the way his mother will serve as the ultimate motivation.

“That lady is so strong. No matter what has gone on she has always kept her head up and smile,” stated Van.

“She taught us all the same thing: ‘stay strong and don’t quit.’ “

Words to live by indeed.

Back In The Saddle

What better terminology to use as the Lions get ready to tackle the 6-0 Stampeders in Calgary on Saturday night (6 PM PT, TSN1040/TSN 1/ESPN+). After returning to the practice field on Saturday evening followed by a Sunday afternoon workout in the heat, Buono gave his players Monday off in order to further rest from some of those bumps and bruises that came in the loss at Ottawa on July 20th.

Right tackle Jovan Olafioye did not take part in any on-field drills over the weekend, while Hunter Steward saw minimal reps on Sunday. Olafioye injured his knee in Ottawa while Steward has not seen any game action since June 30th in Edmonton due to a nagging back injury.

Buono stressed the fact it is still way too early in the week to rule out any possibilities but agreed with the notion that Johnson looked comfortable in the backfield.

“They definitely have moved forward and you have to because your next opponent is undefeated, they play great football and they don’t beat themselves,” said the sideline boss.

“For us to get a little bit of an early start I think is going to be very helpful but football is a funny game, the teams that execute well and limit their mistakes usually win.”

You don’t have to be a historian to know the Lions have struggled in Calgary in recent years, their last victory at McMahon Stadium coming on August 1st, 2014. Since then it has been five consecutive losses there including the 2016 Western Division Final. Time to turn it around in Cowtown.

Matt Baker: mbaker@bclions.com