Spruce Grove – The St. Albert Storm showcased their skills to mixed reviews in Saturday's season debut at the midget spring league jamboree.
"It was a good day but we can do better because we let a couple of games slip away from us," said cornerback Adam Anderson, who picked off three passes in four controlled scrimmages as the Storm won one and tied three. "There is definitely room for improvement."
Chad Hill, head coach of the tier I Storm, was impressed by the talent level displayed by the Grade 9, 10 and 11 players.
"Some of the veterans really showed how much they improved since the fall," he said. "I'm very happy with our Grade 9 kids. I can't say enough about the heart they showed."
The coaching staff had difficult cuts to make to field a roster of 45 players. Teams are required to dress a maximum number of Grade 11s and a minimum number of Grade 9s and 10s. The toughest decisions concerned the younger players.
"Unfortunately we can't keep all of them and I hope those players will go play for the [tier II Edmonton] Seahawks. They're willing to accommodate them and I hope they play football in the spring even if it's not with us," Hill said.
The jamboree brought out the best in a number of players on defence.
"[Defensive back] Galen Pon was outstanding, making tackles all over the field. Adam Anderson had some good interceptions. Kieran Fraser was strong at linebacker. Joe Ur and Ian Morrison on the ends did a very good job. Ur made a ton of tackles. Morrison, who hasn't played football in over a year and a half, got better throughout the day as he got rid of the rust."
Two-way linemen Lewis Biamonte, Connor Petrie and Garrett Meek, a Grade 9 bantam product of the St. Albert Fury, excelled in the trenches.
Also making an impact from the Grade 9 ranks was running back/linebacker Nathan Pytel, defensive back Nathan Anderson, linebacker/defensive lineman Brad Hoddinott, linebacker Andre Sarafinchan and quarterback/receiver Dallas Moroz until a wrist injury sidelined the Grade 9 Fury bantam in the last game of the jamboree.
On offence the one-two punch of Mike Spagnolo and Tayler White split most of the reps at quarterback. White also reeled in passes at slotback. The Grade 11 Sturgeon Composite High School student and Bellerose Bulldogs' standout racked up three touchdowns and had another called back on a questionable offensive pass interference call.
"White and Spagnolo both looked good," Hill said. "Devin Kondro [Bulldogs' MVP in Grades 10 and 11] was a force carrying the ball, blocking and receiving out of the backfield. Spencer Duff, Grayson Baker and Pytel also gained good chunks of yardage on the ground."
Jamboree results
In the controlled scrimmages each team ran 21 offensive plays, divided into eight, eight and five plays respectively per sequence, starting at the 40-yard line on the divided field. Blitzing was not allowed.
The Storm kicked off the jamboree against the Parkland Outlaws and won the turnover battle as both teams registered TDs. The first stringers scored for the Storm and the Outlaws replied against the second squad.
"We were a little sloppy but we were getting into our rhythm because that's the first game of the year," Anderson said.
In the second tilt the Storm outscored the Edmonton Mustangs 2-1, with Spagnolo hooking up with White for the first of two majors by the starting unit.
"That was our best effort. We looked like we were on fire," Anderson said.
"The offence was doing good. We were airing the ball out. The defence did a pretty good job too. Overall it was a good game."
After a one-hour break the Storm huddled up against the Battle River Shock and the teams traded TDs in the 2-2 affair.
"We were a little sloppy that game because it was right after lunch," Anderson said.
The Shock were a formidable foe with their size advantage.
"They were very good. They had guys bigger than any of our O-line in the backfield and they pounded the ball on us. We had some difficulties but give the guys credit; they stuck in there. We had a couple of nice stands inside the 17-yard line so that was good," Hill said.
The jamboree wrapped up with a 1-1 draw against the Sherwood Park Wolverines. Anderson picked off his third pass of the day and was also flagged for some roughhouse antics.
"I'm just trying to give it my all, like I always do, and have some fun at the same time," said the Grade 11 Bellerose student.
The Storm open their fifth season in the Capital District Minor Football Association at 5:30 p.m. Saturday against the Mustangs at Clarke Park. The Storm are the defending tier III playoff champs after going 1-4 in the tier I regular season and 3-4 overall.
"We better do better than last year," Anderson said. "We have a better offence. It's more rounded. It's not focused in on certain aspects. Defensively, once we get all of our guys back from vacation, it will be even better than it was today."
Anderson, 17, is playing in his third and final Storm season.
"There are a bunch of us that probably won't play with each other ever again so we want to cherish this season."
