Home is where the heart is for the St. Albert Storm.
The midget spring league team is pumped to host the Parkland Predators in Friday’s home opener at 6:30 p.m. at the Riel Park turf field.
“I’m a big believer in, this is our house and when we’re on this field it’s really tough to beat us,” said running back Nathan Pytel.
The Storm was 1-1 on the road when they huddled up Tuesday against the Edmonton Mustangs at Johnny Bright Park. The score was unavailable at press time.
The team of Grade 9, 10 and 11 players kicked off the Tier I and II schedule in the Capital District Minor Football Association with a shocking 56-7 loss to Parkland on April 15 at Clarke Park.
“Come Friday, when we get another chance at the Predators, we’re going to take the game,” Pytel vowed.
The Storm shook off the worst loss in team history with a convincing 35-7 victory over the Millwoods Grizzlies last Thursday at Johnny Bright Park.
“It was a huge momentum builder. Without that win, I don’t know where we would be right now,” Pytel said. “Our confidence is building and that’s what I think is important because if you lose momentum as a team it’s hard to get back on the winning path.”
The Storm racked up 20 first downs, compared to only seven against Parkland. Three quarterbacks combined for 13 completions on 17 attempts for 199 yards.
On defence they were tighter than a drum after Parkland riddled the Storm for 23 first downs and 219 rushing yards on 22 carries.
“We played as a team overall really good. Our line-up stepped it up,” Pytel said. “We showed what I would say is our true team and our true capabilities. We can play with any team in this league, we just have to be ready and prepared.”
The Storm scored two TDs in the first half, including their opening drive against the Grizzlies, and after three quarters led 29-7.
In the previous game Parkland whipped up six TDs to lead by 35 at halftime.
“The difference was we came out with intensity and played hard. If you don’t come out with intensity it’s hard to keep a winning game going and score points,” said Pytel, 16.
The Grade 11 St. Albert High Skyhawk rushed for 95 yards on 12 carries and scored two TDs on short dashes against the Grizzlies. His backfield partner on the Skyhawks, Matti Thurlin, gained 60 yards on seven handoffs. Both players are interchangeable at tailback or fullback.
“Matti and I ran really hard and just pounded it up the middle,” Pytel said.
Quarterback Keith Zyla also scrambled for 74 yards on six runs.
Seven players combined for 261 yards on the ground behind a fired-up offensive line.
“The O-line really stepped up their game. Against [Parkland] they weren’t getting any forward momentum, but in this game they just buckled down, got the push and gave us the yards we needed. Without them we wouldn’t be going anywhere,” said Pytel, the team’s top rusher after two games with 151 yards on 24 carries.
Brendan Thera-Plamondon, Rocky Borrelli and Chandler Duff caught TD passes in the win. Zyla completed four out of six passes for 98 yards and two TDs and Dallas Moroz was 3-for-5 passing for 34 yards and one TD.
The Grizzlies failed to complete a pass against the Storm and finished the game with 160 rushing yards.
The Storm also registered five sacks and Tyler Moroz picked off a pass.
“Our defence had the outside held down hard because they’ve got some fast running backs on Millwoods,” Pytel said. “We also had guys like T-Bone [Trevor Beller] and [Dean] Ciampanelli getting sacks and that really helped us with our pass coverage.”
THIRD DOWN: Pytel, Zyla and linebackers Carter Ganton and Brad Hoddinott of the Skyhawks and Storm lineman Garrett Meek of the Ross Sheppard Thunderbirds are among 118 players selected to try out for Team Alberta that will compete in the Football Canada Cup in July in London, Ont. Zyla is trying out at safety.
The Football Canada Cup is a competition for the top high school players at the U18 level. The players were selected from 320 mainly Grade 10 and 11 students who attended four talent identification camps in Lethbridge, Calgary, Red Deer and Edmonton the last two weekends.
The Team Alberta selection camp, May 11-13 at Foote Field will determine the final 40-man roster.
