Metro Edmonton high school football kicks off Thursday for St. Albert teams in the Carr conference.
The doubleheader at Riel Recreation Park starts at 5 p.m. between the St. Albert High Skyhawks and Bev Facey Falcons, the defending league champions.
At 7:30 p.m. the Bellerose Bulldogs tackle the Ardrossan Bisons, the 2012 Miles conference champions.
Last year the Skyhawks finished 3-5 in the metro league as the lone Tier III (school population 450-749) team in the conference. In their first year in the Tier III playdowns the Skyhawks lost the north final to the Stettler Wildcats, the eventual provincial champions.
Last weekend in California the Skyhawks fell 50-6 to the Great Oak Wolfpack in Temecula. The halftime score was 43-0.
The Bulldogs were also in California last weekend and lost 43-0 to Valley Center Jaguars, ranked 67th in the state.
Ben Graunke was the Bulldogs’ top rusher and the defence was led by front seven standouts Ryan Shorten, Liam Gray, Billy Clapp, Dean Ciampanelli and Cody Johnston. Gray and Clapp recovered fumbles and Ciampanelli forced a turnover.
Last year in metro the Bulldogs finished 2-7 overall.
At 7:30 p.m. the Paul Kane Blues huddle up against the O’Leary Spartans at Clarke Park.
Last year the Blues didn’t win a game in league play, but the junior Blues finished 7-1 overall as the premier conference champions.
This is the second year for football at Paul Kane. Since the formation of the metro association in 1988/89, Paul Kane students played football for the St. Albert Storm and then 13 years for the Skyhawks before last year’s metro debut.
The St. Albert Minor Football Association and the City of St. Albert celebrate 50 years of football in St. Albert on Saturday.
The event, titled SAMFA’s Got Talent, coincides with the season opener in the Capital District Minor Football Association. All six SAMFA teams in the atom (Buccaneers and Vikings), peewee (Colts and Riders) and bantam (Fury and 49ers) are expected to play at Riel Recreation Park.
After the national anthem at 12 p.m., Mayor Nolan Crouse will deliver a speech, the anniversary cake will be cut and the SAMFA players will join together in a commemorative photo celebrating the 50th anniversary.
A free hotdog lunch for players and spectators goes from 12 to 2 p.m.
In the evening SAMFA is hosting a fun pub night for adults at the Skybox Grill in Servus Credit Union Place, featuring live music, karaoke competition and a silent auction. Tickets are $10 and are available from any team manager or through Angela Kerr at [email protected].
