The 2011 Football Canada Cup ended last weekend in Lethbridge, and unfortunately for a pair of Paul Kane Blues, things didn’t go Team Alberta’s way in the final.
The championship game of the tournament, which pits the best U18 football players from several different provinces against one another, featured Quebec and Alberta in a defensive struggle that ended in a score of 28-2 favouring Quebec.
The Alberta roster featured defensive backs Nathan Mitchell and Brandon Jennings. The former St. Albert High Skyhawks and midget St. Albert Storm players are going into Grade 12 this fall and will suit up for the first football team in Paul Kane history.
Alberta’s only points came on singles by kicker Stephen Fabian in the first quarter. Quebec answered back with a 71-yard touchdown from Alexandre Huard in the second quarter to take a 7-2 lead into halftime.
In the second half, Quebec tacked on three more touchdowns while holding Alberta off the scoreboard to take the title.
In previous games at the tournament, Alberta recorded a 52-19 win over Saskatchewan and a 25-8 win over Ontario East. Mitchell recorded one interception against Saskatchewan, last year’s champions.
The last weekend before provincials for the midget AAA St. Albert Cardinals starts today in Okotoks with a doubleheader against Foothills Black.
On Sunday, the Cardinals host Foothills Red at 3 p.m. at Legion Memorial Park.
In the Norwest league, the Cardinals (6-16) are ranked ninth out of 11 teams. Black (17-5) is second and Red (8-6) is sixth.
Provincials are July 28 to Aug. 1 in Sherwood Park.
Meanwhile, Nathan Coffin of the Cardinals is fourth in league batting with a .414 average. He is 24-for-58 with two homers, 17 RBIs and 22 runs scored.
The team’s top pitcher is Tanner Karpinski (1-1) with a 4.29 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 31 innings.
The bantam AAA St. Albert Cardinals wrap up their regular season schedule today at Legion Memorial Park.
They play Foothills Red at 9 a.m. and Foothills Black at 6 p.m.
Last weekend in Okotoks, the Cardinals beat Red 12-1 and lost 18-4 to Black, the top seed for provincials, which run July 29 to Aug. 1.
The Cardinals are 16-5 after knocking off the Red Deer Braves 11-8 Wednesday in Red Deer.
