From staff reports
Former Catawba quarterback Brad Roach has signed with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League.
Roach, who threw 62 touchdown passes at Catawba, inked a two-year contract. There’s an option for a third year.
He’ll report in June to last season’s Grey Cup runner-up.
The 6-foot-6, 250-pound Roach signed as a free agent with the Baltimore Ravens after last April’s draft but was released in training camp.
He also had a tryout during the NFL season with the Cleveland Browns after the team was hit hard by QB injuries, but the Browns opted to sign Bruce Gradkowski instead.
A Catawba connection helped Roach secure a tryout. Jim Popp, Montreal’s general manager, is the son of Catawba Hall of Famer Joe Popp.
Catawba coach Chip Hester said Roach impressed the Alouettes at a tryout he attended.
Former Catawba receiver Brent Johnson was a target of Roach’s during his tryout and showed enough that the Alouettes have purchased his rights, although they haven’t yet signed Johnson to a contact.
Marc Trestman, former N.C. State offensive coordinator and long-time NFL quarterbacks guru, is Montreal’s head coach.
“All along, Brad’s been waiting for somebody to give him an opportunity, and this looks like a great situation for him with a good team and organization,” Hester said.
* Former Indians Roach, Johnson, running back Kory Fisher and linebacker SaMario Houston were drafted by the fledgling United National Gridiron League. The developmental league kicks off in February.
– Indians get transfer
Running back Josh Wright has been admitted to school at Catawba and has officially transferred from Western Carolina.
Wright played in six games for the Catamounts as a redshirt freshman, rushing 18 times for 45 yards and catching five passes.
Catawba coach Chip Hester said the Indians originally recruited Wright when he was a high school star at Hoke County in Raeford.
– Helms lands Freedom job
Former Northwest Cabarrus football coach Mike Helms has been named as the new head coach at 4A Morganton Freedom.
He replaces Jason Watson, who resigned in December after a 3-8 campaign.
Helms was 46-31 in six years at Northwest, including a 10-3 season in 2007.
Helms also piloted East Burke for two seasons in the 1990s.
– Prep basketball
Mount Tabor’s sixth-ranked boys got 25 points apiece from Josh Hicks and Wake Forest-bound C.J. Harris and pounded Davie County 106-58 for a CPC win on Monday.
The Spartans (15-1) held Davie guard Drew Absher to seven points.
* The new NCPreps.com media polls were released on Monday.
Salisbury’s girls have moved back up to the No. 2 spot in 2A behind unbeaten East Davidson.
Concord’s girls are third, Statesville is seventh and Piedmont is eighth in 3A.
Mount Tabor’s girls are ranked eighth in 4A.
Salisbury’s boys, who are riding a 14-game winning streak, are ranked fourth in 2A behind West Bladen, Shelby and Smoky Mountain. Smoky Mountain and fifth-ranked Forest Hills are undefeated.
In the 3A ranks, Kinston, Dudley, Lake Norman and Concord top the list. West Rowan is ranked 10th this week. Lake Norman and seventh-ranked D.H. Conley are unbeaten.
– 8th grade hoops
Jack Gallagher hit five 3-pointers and scored 19 points to lead Southeast to a 52-47 win over Corriher-Lipe on Monday.
Casey Stiller scored 10 points for the Patriots (5-4). Travis Abbitt scored nine, and K.J. Pressley added eight.
Nathan Lambert led Corriher-Lipe (5-5) with 12 points. Dylan Goodman scored nine, Dillon Parker seven, Carl Benz and Drew Glenn six apiece and Jordan Williams five.
– Southeast’s girls defeated Corriher-Lipe 27-15. Tyesha Phillips and Allison Blackwell scored 12 points each for the Patriots (6-3). Sidney Grkman had six rebounds, and Blackwell had six steals.
Stephanie Thompson led Corriher Lipe (2-8) with six points.
– West Rowan’s second-place girls topped Erwin 35-27. Tall West (8-2) was paced by Tabitha Ball with 12 points. Jotophia Carby scored seven points, and Kym Caldwell had six for the Bulldogs. Ball and Shay Steele were rebounding leaders.
Erwin (6-5, 5-4) was led by Sydney Poole with eight points and five rebounds. Allyson Mills scored six points and Bobbi Thomas with 14 rebounds and five points.
– Brandon Ijames scored nine points to pace West’s boys to a 31-23 victory against Erwin. Joseph Robinson added eight points for the Bulldogs (5-5).
Upset-minded Erwin (0-11, 0-9) took a four-point lead in the second half. Dalton Moose scored 12 points to lead the Eagles, while Tyler L’Hommedieu added seven points.
– College swimming
Catawba’s women’s and men’s swim teams fell to Wingate, Ashland and Washington & Lee at a quad meet over the weekend at the Mecklenburg Aquatic Center.
Katie Huff (North Stanly) finished second in two events.
She had runner-up swims in the 100 breast (1:09.03) and the 200 breast.
Patrik Drakes had the top swim for the men, posting a fourth in the 100 breast (1:01.45).