The undefeated Paul Kane Blues roll into Thursday’s high school football game against the Strathcona Lords as the No. 6-ranked Tier II team in the province.
Kickoff is 5 p.m. at Riel Recreation Park. Admission is $5.
In the metro Edmonton league’s Miles conference the Blues are 2-0 for their longest winning streak in the senior team’s three-year history. The Lords are 0-2. Last year the Lords competed in the Edmonton public league.
The Blues are coming off last week’s historic 78-14 annihilation of the St. Albert High Skyhawks in the third annual Battle of St. Albert between the two programs. The Blues lost the previous clashes 14-10 last year and 15-0 in 2011.
The Blues torched the Skyhawks for 11 touchdowns, including seven in the first half, to lead 49-7 at the break. The Blues also had two TD passes called back in the first half because of penalties.
The Blues are serious contenders for the Miles crown with 19 Grade 12s on the team’s 28-man roster, but head coach Rob Strecker cautioned his players their season doesn’t revolve around beating the Skyhawks.
“I told the boys it’s only the second game. There are no banners being given out after two games. It’s a long season,” Strecker said.
The St. Albert High Skyhawks are regrouping Friday after their most lopsided loss in team history.
Kickoff is 8 p.m. against the W.P. Wagner Warriors at Foote Field.
The Skyhawks are 1-1 and the Warriors are 0-2 in the metro Edmonton league’s Miles conference.
Last year the Warriors huddled up in the Edmonton public league and the Skyhawks were Carr conference finalists and Tier III provincial silver medallists.
After the 78-14 blowout loss to the Paul Kane Blues the Skyhawks dropped from second to ninth in the Football Alberta Tier III rankings.
Head coach Sam Johnson was anxious to see how the Skyhawks would respond after last week’s debacle.
“There has been a lot of good teams that get their, excuse my French, ass whupped occasionally, and it’s how you recover from something like this. We have some great boys here. We’re going to work hard and we’re going to be prepared to play W.P. Wagner,” Johnson said after the loss.
The St. Albert Fury improved to 2-0 in the Capital District Minor Football Association’s bantam Tier 1/2 division after outscoring the Edmonton Mustangs 51-33 Saturday at Foote Field.
Quarterback Sam Cuciz was 11-for-15 passing for 216 yards and two touchdowns.
Colten Meronyk rushed for 111 yards on 12 carries and scored three TDs and Keaton Zaychkowsky gained 87 yards on six handoffs and scored once.
Zaychkowsky also grabbed three passes for 94 yards and one TD.
Jesse Stuht reeled in five balls for 94 yards and one TD. He also recovered a fumble on a Fury kick off and ran 35 yards for another TD.
On defence Stuht recorded seven tackles and sacked the quarterback once. Meronyk had five tackles and blocked a kick. Nick Allen was credited with four tackles, Logan Moreau had three tackles and two knockdowns and Adam Bochar picked off a pass late in the game to stop a Mustangs' drive at the three-yard line.
The next game is Sunday against the Stony Plain Bombers at 10 a.m. at Fuhr Sports Park in Spruce Grove.
The pound and ground game by the St. Albert 49ers left the Spruce Grove Cougars seeing stars Saturday at Riel Recreation Park.
The 49ers rushed for 250 yards in the 41-20 victory in the Capital District Minor Football Association’s bantam Tier 3/4 division.
Isaiah Ansah spearheaded the attack with 190 yards on 24 carries and scored touchdowns of 29 and 32 yards and two from the one-yard line.
Christian Foote gained 48 yards on eight carries and Josh Porter added 12 yards on four handoffs.
Backup quarterback Mark Barber was pressed into service and completed five out of nine passes for 105 yards and two TDs as the 49ers racked up 355 yards in total offence. He was picked off once.
Brandon Psutka was the top receiver with two catches for 54 yards, including a 27-yard TD reception set up by a big pancake block by Anthony Swecera.
On defence the 49ers gave up only 165 yards of total offence. They sacked the quarterback six times, including a 14-yard loss by Diego Hurtado, and Bryce Workman and Jaeden Ulmer picked off passes. Workman returned his interception 38 yards to the four, and the 49ers were quick to cash the turnover into points.
Saturday at 1:30 p.m. the 2012 Tier 3 CDMFA champions and north provincial finalists play the Edmonton Seahawks at Clarke Park.
