The Paul Kane Blues cross the line from Miles champions to Carr contenders Thursday in metro Edmonton high school football.
The division one kick-off is 6 p.m. between the Blues and Spruce Grove Panthers at Fuhr Sports Park and gate admission is $5.
Last week the Panthers won their Carr opener, 35-26 over the Jasper Place Rebels, and the Blues were in Texas and lost 44-16 to the Groesbeck Goats.
In division two the Blues repeated as undefeated Miles champions last year and in the Tier II (750 to 1,249 students) provincial north playoffs lost to the eventual Alberta Bowl winners both years to finish 18-2 overall over that span.
The Blues and Austin O'Brien Crusaders are the only Tier II teams in the Carr and their season-ending Oct. 30 tilt could decide who represents the metro league in the provincial playoffs.
The Blues huddle up in Spruce Grove after a controlled scrimmage against the division two McNally Tigers and the exhibition against the Goats, where the heat and adjustment to the American game took its toll.
The Blues started with the ball and went three and out and the Goats blocked the punt for a safety.
It was 10-0 in the blink of an eye after a touchdown and two-point conversion
The Blues closed out the first half down 37-8 after the offence put together a drive from the Paul Kane 20 and scored with a two-point conversion as Tanner Buchanan celebrated the first of his two TDs on the night. Buchanan also picked off a pass at linebacker.
After the 30-minute halftime break the Blues outscored the Goats 8-7. The defence came up with some big stops and Julian Pawlychka and Zach Dreger caused grief for the Goats' offensive line.
While in Texas the Blues checked out a 6A high school game featuring the Cedar Hill Longhorns and Bowie Volunteers and saw the Alabama Crimson Tide roll over the Wisconsin Badgers 35-17 at AT&T Stadium.
Tonight the St. Albert Skyhawks line up against the Strathcona Lords in the Miles division two lid-lifter.
Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. at Johnny Bright Park and gate admission is $5.
Last year in the Miles the Skyhawks finished 3-4 and Strathcona was 0-6.
As the only Tier III (450 to 749 students) team in division two the Skyhawks represented the metro Edmonton league in the provincial playoffs and in the north semifinal lost 52-7 to the Whitecourt Cats.
The Skyhawks are 7-9 overall after going 9-4 in 2012 as the Carr finalists and Tier III provincial silver medallists in the second year without the Paul Kane Blues as a feeder school for the St. Albert Catholic High School football program.
Last week the Skyhawks blanked the Tier III Stettler Wildcats 10-0 in exhibition action in St. Albert.
The Bellerose Bulldogs and Austin O'Brien Crusaders tangle Thursday in metro Edmonton senior football.
Game time is 7:30 p.m. at Clarke Park and gate admission is $5.
Last week both teams kicked off their Carr division one schedules with losses of 27-6 for Bellerose against the Harry Ainlay Titans and 29-0 for AOB against the Salisbury Sabres.
The top four finishers in the nine-team Carr standings make the playoffs.
Morgan Sherban was 7-for-17 passing for 45 yards against the Titans. Zach Nuttall gained 38 yards on five carries for one touchdown and caught five passes for 22 yards. Drew Morison was credited with nine tackles and Elliot Saive had five.
The Bellerose Bulldogs and Paul Kane Blues have exhibitions on tap in preparation for the junior season.
The Bulldogs play the Henry Wisewood Warriors of Calgary on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Johnny Bright Park and the Bev Facey Falcons on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Riel Recreation Park.
Last weekend the Bulldogs hosted the Peace Wapiti Academy Titans of Grande Prairie and lost 14-6 against a lineup that included Grade 12 players. It was 14-0 at halftime. Damen Murley scored the Bulldogs’ lone touchdown and Quade Kozak’s TD got called back.
The three-time reigning undefeated metro Edmonton division one champions, winners of 23 consecutive league and playoff games combined, make their pool B season debut Sept. 29 against the Blues.
Tuesday the Blues tackle the Jasper Place Rebels at 5 p.m. at Clarke Park and their first pool B game is Sept. 22 against the Ross Sheppard Thunderbirds at 5 p.m. at Riel recreation Park.
The Capital District Minor Football Association season kicks off this weekend for St. Albert’s bantam and peewee teams.
Saturday the Tier 3/4 bantam Fury visit the Spruce Grove Cougars at 10 a.m. at Fuhr Sports Park
Sunday at Riel Recreation Park the Colts and Riders huddle up in the peewee opener at 10 a.m. and the Tier 1/2 bantam 49ers battle the Edmonton Northstars at 12:30 p.m.
Last year the undefeated Fury won the CDMFA Tier 3 crown and the Riders finished 6-4 overall as the Tier 2 league champions and provincial finalists.
