McCarty played high school football for the St. Thomas More Knights in Burnaby , British Columbia beginning in 1998 , playing as both a running back and middle linebacker on the Grade 8 team . He quickly became a key player on the team , including rushing for 185 yards and four touchdowns while adding 10 defensive tackles in the Grade 8 provincial semi @-@ finals on November 24 against the Handsworth Royals . For that performance , he was named " Star of the Week " by The Vancouver Sun . The Knights went on to defeat the Vancouver College Fighting Irish 48 – 0 in the Grade 8 B.C. championship game , where McCarty scored another three touchdowns .