The Paul Kane Blues continue their excellent adventure in high school football Saturday in Grande Prairie.
The juggernaut 9-0 Miles conference champions in the metro Edmonton league travel to play the St. Joseph’s Celtics in the Tier II (750 to 1,249 students) provincial north semifinals. Kickoff is 2:30 p.m. at Legion Field.
The Celtics (9-2), ranked fifth in Tier II, are coming off a 17-2 loss in the Mighty Peace League final to the Sexsmith Sabres (7-1), ranked third in Tier IV (449 or less students).
In league play the Celtics, last year’s Mighty Peace champions, defeated Sexsmith 8-1.
“That’s a good football team. We’ve watched some game film on them. They’re going to be tough,” said Rob Strecker, head coach of the No. 2-ranked Blues.
“From here on in it’s the best of the best. All teams now basically have one loss or no losses but I’m confident if we bring our game and play our game we’ll be all right.”
Historically the quality of officiating and playable fields in the northern outposts has been a thorny issue for Edmonton-and-area teams in the provincial playoffs.
“We can’t worry about that stuff. We can’t worry about field conditions. We can’t worry about officiating. We have to worry about what we’re going to do on the field and if we do that we’ll take care of business,” Strecker said.
Old Man Winter may be a bigger foe than the Celtics for the Blues to beat.
“We love the snow so whatever happens, happens up there but we’ll be ready for sure,” said Tyler Turner, a sure-handed Grade 12 slotback.
In the other north semifinal Saturday the Austin O’Brien Crusaders, the two-time reigning Tier II champions, visit the Lloydminster Barons.
AOB, a 3-4 non-playoff team in the Carr conference that hasn’t played since Oct. 17, is ranked 10th and the Lloydminster team is unranked.
The winner will host the Blues or Celtics in the Nov. 9 north final for the right to compete in the Alberta Bowl on Nov. 22. Kickoff is 7 p.m. at Hellard Field in Shouldice Park at Calgary.
In the south semifinals the No. 1-ranked Foothills Falcons (10-0) of Okotoks tackle the No. 4-ranked Hunting Hills Lightning (8-1) in Red Deer and the No. 9-ranked St. Mary’s Saints (2-6) of Calgary huddle up against the No. 3-ranked Catholic Central Cougars (6-1) in Lethbridge.
The Blues are gunning to become the first St. Albert football team to win a provincial championship.
The Tier I (1,250-plus students) Storm in 1990, 1992 and 1997 and last year’s Tier III St. Albert High Skyhawks were provincial finalists.
“We’re going to take it one game at a time; that’s all we can do. We’ll go play up in Grande Prairie and then go from there,” said Graham Loerke, a valuable Grade 12 linebacker and centre.
It’s been a magical ride for the Blues in only the third year of Paul Kane football. The senior team made school history by whipping the Ardrossan Bisons 44-14 in the Miles final for its first metro banner.
The majority of the players were also on the junior Blues’ premier championship team in 2011.
“This is satisfaction. We’ve worked so hard for this moment,” Strecker said. “It’s so exciting.”
