Catley looking forward to taking Thunder's reins

By Tim Switzer, Leader-PostOctober 2, 2009

Tex is ready to be the next gunslinger for the Regina Thunder.

Wyatt Catley -- nicknamed Tex because of his mysterious southern accent -- will make his first Prairie Football Conference start Sunday (1 p.m., Mosaic Stadium) against the Winnipeg Rifles.

Catley was thrust into the starting job when Reid Quest tore the medial collateral ligament in his left knee and was forced to the sideline for the rest of the season.

"I've wanted to start for the Thunder for three years now," said Catley, who will also pilot the Thunder in the post-season beginning on Oct. 11. "I've put my time in and I'm really excited for this chance. I look at it as a chance to get better. As in every practice and every game, you look to get better and I really have to use this one to get ready for the playoffs."

Catley has not made a start in a meaningful game since his days with the Usher Unicorns. He and Quest joined the Thunder in 2007 and served as emergency backups that season before Quest beat out Catley for the starting job in 2008.

While never seeing a lot of action in games, Catley has been reasonably effective when he has received opportunities. So far this season, Catley has gone 16-for-30 for 223 yards with a pair of touchdowns and two interceptions.

"People do tend to forget that when they came in, they were neck and neck and Wyatt has never been far behind," said Thunder offensive co-ordinator Stefan Endsin. "He's a guy that doesn't miss any film, he puts in extra time and has really learned how to compete on this level."

For all of his time at the junior level, Catley has been known as Tex around the Thunder clubhouse.

Catley was saddled with the nickname -- along with others like Hillbilly, Cowboy and Wyatt Earp over the course of his life -- because of his countrified drawl. It's something one might expect from someone raised on a cattle farm -- just not a cattle farm near Craven.

"People have said that's how they've always known me is talking this way and I've never tried talking any different," Catley said with a shrug. "Ever since high school I've adopted the nickname Tex just because of the way I talk. It's pretty nifty I guess."

"I didn't even know his name until like last year -- I just called him Tex," running back Brennan Kasbrick said with a laugh.

What Kasbrick did know was that the Thunder had a perfectly capable quarterback in hiding.

"He's the perfect guy to fill in for Reid," said Kasbrick. "He's got a great arm, makes great reads. I have absolute faith in him that's he's going to do good this weekend."

Catley would like to do well beyond this weekend and lead the Thunder deep into the playoffs. The Thunder has already clinched a post-season berth, but will finish fourth because it lost the head-to-head matchups with the other three playoff teams.

But a victory Sunday would mean a 5-3 record and Regina's first winning record since 2002.

"That's a big step for this program," said Endsin. "It is good that Wyatt gets a game before the playoffs, but to be honest, we're not that worried about it. As coaches we haven't had to adjust what we're doing in our offence that much. He's fully capable of running everything we do."

So while it is somewhat of a tuneup game -- for Catley in particular -- there is plenty at stake.

And Catley knows he has plenty of support to get the Thunder where it wants to go.

"I've had the O-line come up to me and tell me, 'We've got your back, don't worry about it,' " said Catley. "Receivers, DBs, everybody (has said something). It really shows you we're a real close team and that's a great thing to have."