The Bellerose Bulldogs were muzzled by the Salisbury Sabres in Thursday’s shutout loss in Sherwood Park.
“We struggled to move the ball,” said head coach Chad Hill of the 21-0 setback in the metro Edmonton league’s Carr conference.
Josh Dobbins and Matty Short split the quarterback duties for Bellerose in the season opener.
Only one of Salisbury’s three touchdowns were generated by the offence, a one-yard major to wrap up the scoring.
“Our D applied a lot of pressure,” Hill said.
Jakob Butler, a U18 Team Alberta linebacker, scooped up a fumble inside the Bellerose 10-yard line and took it into the endzone in the first quarter.
In the third quarter Salisbury returned a punt to pay dirt.
Jacob Neuls led the Bellerose defensive charge with five tackles in the backfield. The front seven also recoded numerous quarterback sacks.
Trevor Rosaasen picked off a pass deep in the Bellerose end and Dean Ciampanelli recovered a fumble and was a disruptive force in the Salisbury backfield.
Last year Bellerose beat Salisbury 27-7 en route to a 6-3 record as Carr semifinalists.
The next game for Bellerose is Friday against the Harry Ainlay Titans at 5:30 p.m. at Clarke Park. Admission is $5.
The Titans are coming off a 54-35 loss to the Spruce Grove Panthers, last year’s Edmonton public league champions and Tier I provincial finalists.
The first home game for Bellerose is Sept. 19 against the Bev Facey Falcons (1-0), the two-time defending Carr champions. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. at Riel Recreation Park.
This is the first year for Edmonton public league teams in the metro Edmonton league.
