The Paul Kane Blues roared out of the gates in Tuesday's junior lid-lifter and never looked back en route to crushing the Ross Sheppard Thunderbirds by 41 points in metro Edmonton football.
Two of the seven touchdowns in the 49-8 romp at Riel Recreation Park were pick-six interception returns and defensive back Craig Wilkinson almost pulled off the third one on the last play before halftime but was caught at the three-yard line.
The Blues opened the scoring early with a 67-yard pick-six by Cordel Callioux and three minutes later slotback Shoya Lavoie took a reverse 33 yards to pay dirt.
In the second quarter, the Blues put the throttle down and didn’t give up a first down while scoring four times on TD passes by Callioux to Ty Baird for 26 yards and Lavoie for 40 yards, a pick-six by linebacker Christian Foote from 35 yards out and a five-yard run by Moe Tarrabain to make it 42-0 at the half.
The Blues emptied the bench in the second half and experimented with players in different positions, which slowed down the attack to a single TD by backup quarterback Tom Leathem on a one-yard plunge.
The defence continued to dominate and only gave up a long TD run late in the game.
Jaden Strauss was perfect on his converts going 7-for-7.
On tap for the Blues is the annual tussle with the Bellerose Bulldogs. Tuesday’s kick-off is 6 p.m. in St. Albert.
The Blues won the first junior Battle of St. Albert against the Bulldogs in 2011, 14-9, but the three-time defending division one champions – winners of 23 consecutive league and playoff games combined – were victorious in the next three showdowns by scores of 32-7 in 2012, 35-0 in 2013 and 28-17 last year.
It’s also the pool B league opener for the Bulldogs after going 1-3 in the preseason, including a 28-3 decision over the Salisbury Sabres at Clarke Park during their bye week in the metro schedule.
Damen Murley scored the first two TDs and ran for more than 100 yards in less than one half. Quade Kozak and Adam Bochar shared quarterback duties. Kozak rushed for the last two TDs. Ben VanLeeuwen converted all four scores. It was 21-0 at halftime.
Week three in the Capital District Minor Football Association kicks off today at W.P. Wagner High School for the peewee Colts and bantam 49ers.
The Colts huddle up at 10 a.m. and the 49ers follow at 12:30 p.m. against the Edmonton Chargers.
The Tier 1/2 Colts (0-2) lost 36-13 to the Bulldogs and the Tier 1/2 49ers (0-2) fell 57-8 to the Rams in Sherwood Park last weekend.
Sunday the Tier 1/2 peewee Riders (1-1) are in Leduc to play the Edmonton Mustangs at 10 a.m. and the Tier 3/4 bantam Fury host the Edmonton Blue Seahawks at 12:30 p.m. at Riel Recreation Park.
The Riders are coming off a 49-22 loss to Edmonton Raiders in Stony Plain and the Fury (2-0) whipped the hometown Camrose Buffaloes 76-0.
Fury quarterback Jared Koziol completed 13 of 16 passes for 192 yards and four touchdowns and added 40 yards on the ground.
Cory Hannam rushed for 140 yards on eight carries and two TDs and caught three passes for 45 yards and one score.
Hudson Stewart registered two interceptions, including a pick-six.
Ewan Vanderheide led the team in tackles with six and recorded one sack and an interception. He was also on the receiving end of two TD passes and ran for another major.
Last year’s undefeated CDMFA Tier 3 champions picked off five passes overall and seven players combined for 210 rushing yards.
