Clarke Park – Incentive is high for the St. Albert Fury to play the Sherwood Park Rams after losing the bantam Tier 1 final by 21 points to the undefeated Capital District Minor Football Association team.
If the Fury and Rams win their respective provincial semifinals Saturday, the rematch would kick off Nov. 16 for the Football Alberta championship.
The Fury (6-2-1) make their Tier 1 provincial debut against the Calgary league champion Calgary Grey Cowboys at 1 p.m. at Hellard Field in Shouldice Park at Calgary and the Rams (9-0) host the southern Alberta champion Cardston Jr. Cougars at 2:30 p.m. at Clarke Park.
Jesse Stuht, a Grade 8 slotback and linebacker, said the rematch with the Rams starts this week at practice.
“We’re going to have our three best practices we’ve ever had. That's what we’re pressing for. We’re going to do what our coaches tell us,” Stuht said after the 55-34 loss to the Rams. “We didn't have the sharpest practice Friday (before the final) and we can’t have that happen again.”
The Fury were entering uncharted territory against the Rams as the first St. Albert team to compete in the Tier 1 final since the formation of the CDMFA in 1992. The Fury were Tier 1 semifinalists in 1993, 2003 and 2011.
“It’s a killer not having this championship after the year we’ve had but if we win (the semifinal) and they win that one we have another chance at them. That's definitely a second life for us and we’re going to keep pressing for that,” Stuht said.
In the opening 6:29 minutes the Rams marched the opening kick off 55 yards to pay dirt and on their second possession went 38 yards to lead by 14.
“It was a big momentum kill obviously right off the start but we bounced back,” Stuht said.
In the second quarter, a horse-collar tackle on quarterback Sam Cuciz on third and five at the Rams’ 12 set up Keaton Zaychkowsky’s one-yard TD and his convert was good.
After the kick off the Rams drove the ball 62 yards, ending with a two-yard TD pass to make it 20-7. On the conversion attempt, a Rams’ player suffered a lower body injury. Play was halted for an ambulance to arrive to take the player to hospital and both teams took refuge from the cold in their dressing rooms.
After the 30-plus minute delay, the Fury fielded the kick off and on first down at their 25 wideout Matt Schaaf grabbed a short Cuciz pass and raced down the sideline while chased by a handful of Rams for the 85-yard TD. Zaychkowsky’s convert left the Fury trailing by six with 5:37 remaining until the end of the half.
The Rams were flagged for two unnecessary roughness penalties on the convert and Zaychkowsky teed up the ball from the Rams’ 35 on the kick off. His short boot was recovered by David Sarafinchan. The Rams were flagged for objectionable conduct on the play, so the Fury huddled up at the 10. On third and nine, Cuciz’s pass into the endzone was knocked down.
After the turnover on downs the Rams ran the length of the field to score from the Fury 14 with 97 seconds on the clock.
The Rams added another TD, a one-yard effort, and were successful on the two-point conversion with 44 seconds showing to lead 35-13.
The second half was a long, flag-filled affair with the teams exchanging TDs. After three quarters it was 42-13 Rams.
“It’s disappointing obviously,” Stuht said of the loss. “We went as hard as we could and kept our heads up throughout it and I’m proud of the boys for that. We’ve just got to keep going for provincials.”
The Rams also defeated the Fury 54-27 last month.
“The Rams have all of our respect. They’re a good team,” Stuht said.
The Fury also had three touchdowns called back because of penalties.
“Penalties killed us. That's true,” said Stuht, 15.
Zaychkowsky finished the loss with three TDs, including a 103-yard romp with 4:15 remaining and his convert left the Fury down 48-27. Zaychkowsky racked up 182 yards overall on eight carries.
Schaaf, a track-and-field athlete by trade before joining the Fury partway through the season, also pulled off a 96-yard catch and run to close out the scoring. He was credited with three catches for 215 yards.
“He’s a great player. He’s definitely a weapon and we’re glad we have him,” said Stuht, a Sir George Simpson student.
Cuciz was 7-for-15 passing.
Colton Meronyk led the defence with nine tackles, Stuht had six and Matt Jeffers and Nick Allen added five apiece.
