The Bellerose Bulldogs and Paul Kane Blues control their own destinies today on the eve of the metro Edmonton junior playoffs.
In the last pool B games for both teams the Bulldogs (4-0) tackle the Memorial Marauders (2-2) at 6 p.m. at Fuhr Sports Park and the Blues (2-2) play the O’Leary Spartans (1-3) at 5 p.m. at Clarke Park.
The Bulldogs, the two-time defending metro Edmonton division one champions, are undefeated in 20 games since losing the 2011 premier semifinal and have clinched a bye in the Oct. 29 semifinals.
The Blues need a win to finish third in pool B for a berth in Tuesday’s division one opening playoff round.
The last game for the Bulldogs was Friday’s 43-0 throttling of the winless Ross Sheppard Thunderbirds at Clarke Park. It was 41-0 at halftime.
Quarterback Jaedon Carroll ran for touchdowns of one and 50 yards, Matt Olesen bowled over a defender on a five-yard bust into the endzone and Colton Meronyk and Zach Nuttall busted loose for TDs of 20-plus yards. Meronyk also returned a punt 65 yards for a major and was making tackles all over the field on defence. Terrell Peters and Samuel Kaup also picked off passes.
First place is on the line in the Carr division one showdown Thursday between the Bellerose Bulldogs and Bev Facey Falcons.
Both teams are 5-1. Kickoff is 6 p.m. in Sherwood Park and admission is $5.
A win would guarantee the Bulldogs a spot in the Oct. 30 semifinals and a loss would mean a date in next Friday’s opening playoff round at Clarke Park.
In the Tier I (1,250-plus students) Football Alberta rankings the Bulldogs dropped from third to seven after losing 23-6 to the Harry Ainlay Titans (4-2), who jumped from ninth to sixth.
The Bulldogs were beat up physically by the Titans in their homecoming game last week at Foote Field. They also failed to match the intensity and execution of the Titans, who recovered their opening kickoff and never let the momentum slip away from them. It was 7-0 after the first quarter and two touchdowns in the last three minutes before halftime left the Bulldogs trailing 21-0.
One of the few bright spots for the Bulldogs was Maverick Delmas, a reserve receiver who was driven head-first into the turf, resulting in a disqualification for the Titan defender. He regrouped and caught a five-yard TD pass from Trace Stuht.
Cornerback Seth Waselenchuk led the Bulldogs in tackles and was the team’s leading receiver with four catches.
The last game for the Paul Kane Blues before the Miles division two playoffs is Thursday against the W.P. Wagner Warriors.
Kickoff is 5 p.m. at Riel Recreation Park and admission is $5.
The Blues have first place locked up at 5-0 and Wagner is 1-4.
The defending Miles champions have a first round bye and will huddle up in next Friday’s semifinal at 5 p.m. at Foote Field. The final is Nov. 1.
Grade 11 quarterback Brendan Guy leads all Miles quarterbacks with 55 completions out of 97 attempts for 740 yards and nine touchdowns.
The Blues are slotted second in the Football Alberta Tier II (750 to 1,249 students) rankings.
Last year the Blues finished 10-1 overall as the Tier II north finalists.
Thursday’s result will determine when and where the St. Albert Skyhawks will line up in the Miles division two playoffs.
Kickoff is 5 p.m. between the Skyhawks (3-2) and O’Leary Spartans (4-1) at Johnny Bright Park and admission is $5.
The Skyhawks can finish anywhere from second to fourth in the standings.
The opening playoff round is Tuesday and the semifinals are next Friday.
Regardless of how the Skyhawks do in the playoffs they will represent the metro Edmonton league in the Tier III (450 to 749 students) provincial playdowns as the only Tier III team in the Miles.
The Skyhawks, listed fifth as the highest-ranked northern team in the Football Alberta top-10, will play the Mighty Peace rep in the Nov. 8 north semifinals at Clarke Park.
Last week the Skyhawks beat the Ardrossan Bisons 23-14 as Grade 10 quarterback Sam Cuciz was 9-for-13 passing for 121 yards and fired a 50-yard TD strike to Anthony Borelli in the second quarter.
A 45-yard scoop and score by defensive lineman Jarrett Penny and Brandon Jillings’ 12-yard TD run put the Skyhawks on top 13-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Luca Cupelli nailed a 30-yard field goal in the second quarter as the Skyhawks opened up a 23-7 lead at halftime. It was 23-14 after three quarters.
Jillings finished the game with 56 yards on 10 carries and Logan Tait-Vanderheide added 47 yards on seven handoffs.
Borelli caught two passes in total for 70 yards and John Brouse had two grabs for 26 yards.
Ardrossan (2-4), last year’s Tier III Football Alberta finalists, are ranked eighth in Tier IV (449 or fewer students).
In the latest Miles’ stats Rory O’Donovan is the leading tackler with 20. He is also third in rushing with 289 yards on 30 carries and Jillings is fourth with 238 yards on 27 handoffs.
