Metro Edmonton high school football kicks off Thursday at 7:30 p.m. for the Paul Kane Blues in the Miles conference and the Bellerose Bulldogs in the Carr conference.
The Blues line up against the W.P. Wagner Warriors at Johnny Bright and the Bulldogs battle the Salisbury Sabres in Sherwood Park.
This is the first year for Edmonton public league teams in the metro league.
The Carr (division one) features four Edmonton public teams and four Carr holdovers from last year.
The Miles (division two) includes three Edmonton public teams, the defending Miles champion Leduc Tigers and the Blues, Ardrossan Bisons, O’Leary Spartans and St. Albert High Skyhawks, last year’s Tier III (450 to 749 students) provincial silver medallists, from the Carr.
At the provincial level the Bulldogs, who draw players from Sturgeon Composite High School, are Tier I (1,250-plus students) and the Blues, a strong Miles contender this year, are Tier II (750 to 1,249 students).
Friday the St. Albert Sabres host the Fort Saskatchewan Rangers in bantam AAA exhibition action at 7:45 p.m. at Troy Murray Arena.
The Sabres opened pre-season play Tuesday against the SSAC Southgate Lions, but the score was unavailable at press time.
Saturday’s doubleheader at Airway Park between the St. Albert Rugby Football Club and the rival Clansmen kicks off at 2 p.m. with the second division men’s match.
SARFC (4-8-1) and the Clan (5-7-1) failed to make the top-four playoff round. The last playoff appearance by St. Albert’s second 15 was two years ago.
The Alberta Cup premier men’s match starts at 4 p.m. The first 15 have lost four in a row and five of their last six matches to the Clan. The losing streak includes last year’s Ken Ann Cup north final in the ERU (61-15) and this year’s league opener (29-17).
Next Saturday the firsts (6-5) scrum down against the Strathcona Druids (6-6) at 2 p.m. at Ellerslie Rugby Park for the right to play the Clan (7-4) Sept. 28 for the Ken Ann Cup for a berth at the Oct. 5 provincials.
The first of six midget AAA exhibition games for the St. Albert Raiders is Sept. 9 against the K of C Pats.
Faceoff is 6:15 p.m. at Bill Hunter Arena.
The Raiders make their pre-season home debut Sept. 18 against the Sherwood Park Kings at 7:45 p.m. at Akinsdale Arena.
