The Bellerose Bulldogs can solidify a playoff position with a victory Thursday against the Salisbury Sabres.

Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. at Riel Recreation Park. Admission is $5.

The metro Edmonton high school football teams are 3-1 and locked in a four-way logjam for third place in the Carr conference. The top four teams make the playoffs.

The Sabres and Bulldogs are also ranked sixth and 10th, respective, in Tier I.

“We know we have the abilities to be a playoff team in this league. That is our goal right from square one,” said head coach Chad Hill.

The Bulldogs are coming off a 44-0 thumping of the O’Leary Spartans (1-4) Friday at Clarke Park.

“It was a good effort but far from a perfect game. We need to improve our passing efficiency and tighten up the coverage in our secondary in order to be successful against Sal,” Hill said.

Grade 12 tailback Ben Graunke opened the scoring with a five-yard touchdown run. The long drive was set up by a couple of Dallas Moroz bootlegs for first downs.

Graunke also ran 22 yards for a major before the quarter ended.

In the second quarter Moroz hooked up with Josh Dobbins for a 15-yard TD strike.

The Bulldogs dominated the second half with TDs by Graunke (five-yard run), Tyler Thorsley (90-yard kickoff return following a safety) and Tyler Feltis (11-yard run).

Dean Ciampanelli was instrumental in O’Leary conceding two safeties. Ciampanelli led the Bulldogs in tackles with five and Ryan Shorten and Josh Rychlo had four apiece. The Bulldogs held O’Leary to only 157 yards on offence.

Connor Hughes was 4-for-5 kicking converts.

Total offence for the Bulldogs was 402 yards. Graunke racked up 151 yards on 15 carries. Moroz was 5-for-8 passing for 98 yards.

It was a big bounce-back win for the Bulldogs after losing 14-13 to the St. Albert High Skyhawks (3-2) in the 10th annual Battle of St. Albert on Sept. 20. The Bulldogs gassed a 13-point lead in the second half and with 1:34 remaining Hughes missed a 34-yard field goal on third down and five.

“It would be fantastic if we could play those guys again in the playoffs because I think it’s good for football in St. Albert,” Hill said.

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