By Canadian Press

Rookie QB Buckley learns from, contributes to, Calgary Stampeder success

Oct 28, 2016 | 3:30 PM

CALGARY — Andrew Buckley took on the role of Calgary Stampeders short-yardage cannon fodder and ran with it, football in hand.

The 23-year-old quarterback from Calgary has rushed for eight touchdowns all from within the five-yard-line in his rookie CFL season.

It’s punishing grunt work. Opposing defensive lines crave the momentum that comes from denying his plunges for a first down or a major.

But Calgary’s third-stringer behind starter Bo Levi Mitchell and backup Drew Tate is ecstatic to get on the field, contribute and learn.

“It’s been wild,” Buckley said Friday at McMahon Stadium. “I’m pumped just to have a role in short yardage situations and it’s going real well. I’m glad the coaches trust me down at the goal-line with the ball.

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“Especially my first year, it’s a great way to keep me involved in the game and kind of get me up to game speed.

“You’re on the field and getting used to how things are moving and how fast it is. It’s a cool way to learn to be thrown in, not completely up to your head, but in a limited role.”

Buckley capped a five-year university career with the Calgary Dinos in May by winning the award that goes to the top male athlete in Canadian Interuniversity Sport.

The CFL notoriously difficult for a Canadian university quarterback to gain a foothold, the two-time Hec Crighton Trophy winner has ridden his steep learning curve with a smile on is face.

“The stage hasn’t been too big for him,” Calgary quarterbacks coach Ryan Dinwiddie said. “We’ve been using him as a short-yardage back. He’s been pretty productive with it.

“You don’t want to overload him, but I thought everything we gave him, he’s handled well.”

Buckley’s eight rushing majors rank second on the Stampeders behind teammate and league leader Jerome Messam with 11.

Buckley, six feet and 203 pounds, has scored one in each of his last three games heading into Sunday’s clash with the host Montreal Alouettes (5-11).

The Stampeders (15-1-1) will set a league record for the most points and highest winning percentage in the CFL’s modern era if they win their regular-season finale.

Calgary ends the regular season with a bye week before playing the West Division final Nov. 20 at McMahon.

Head coach Dave Dickenson said earlier this week he wants to get Tate some reps Sunday. Mitchell is this season’s dominant quarterback with a league-leading 5,385 passing yards and 32 passing touchdowns.

Buckley’s one recorded passing attempt this season came from a broken play in last week’s win over the Toronto Argonauts. He grabbed the ball off the turf after a botched snap and threw it away.

Spending his first season as a pro on a successful, possibly historic, team plus watching and learning daily from Mitchell feels like the ideal situation to Buckley.

“It’s a unique position for me to be in as a first-year guy out of the CIS,” he said. “I’ve got such a big gap to cover, but I’ve got him to look at every day in practice.”

Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press