The “Road to the Alberta Bowl” fires up on many fronts this weekend as 40 high school football teams start the process of vying to be in the finals of four different Tiers of 12-man football and one Tier of 6-Man. The following are the draws for the 2012 ASAA Provincial High School Football Playoffs that will lead up to the fourth Alberta Bowl.
TIER I (School Pop. 1250+)
Northern Semi-Finals
CFC #4 Spruce Grove Panthers at Grande Prairie Warriors
Sat. Nov. 10 – 2:30 p.m., Legion Field (Grande Prairie)
#1 ranked and undefeated all season long the Panthers leap into Provincials on the strength of a 59-2 shellacking of Jasper Place in the Edmonton Public Final last Saturday. JP had been the only team to come remotely close to Spruce Grove this season with a 42-34 Panther win on October 4th, but now the Panthers seemed to have turned on the turbo charge. Enter the Grande Prairie Warriors. Not their best season with the unranked defending Mighty Peace Champions bowing out in the League Semi-Finals two weeks ago but still game for the challenge. Perhaps the long drive and chilly conditions on the weekend will work to the Warriors favour, but to slow down a team that beats teams by an average score of four touchdowns is going to be quite a task indeed. The winner hosts next weekend.
CFC ‘HM’ Jasper Place Rebels at CFC #16 Bev Facey Falcons
Sat., Nov. 10 – 2:30 p.m., Clarke Park (Edmonton)
Now about that Jasper Place team. Third straight appearance in Provincials having been Edmonton Public finalists the last three seasons including 2012. At least this one doesn’t involve a long trek to play Raymond or Notre Dame which has been their reward in the last two seasons. No, this time they get the high flying Bev Facey Falcons. Hard to believe but with all the oohs and ahhs about Spruce Grove this year, the Falcons have been flying under the radar this year quietly maintaining the #3 ranking and going 11-0, winning their umpteenth Metro Title , and beating teams by an average margin of victory of 43 points per game. Still, the Rebels are a dangerous team in the playoffs having upsets on their record the last two seasons so they should not be taken lightly. These two teams faced off to kick-off the season back on August 31st which saw a 21-0 Facey victory in the exhibition season.
Southern Semi-Finals
CFC ‘HM‘ Notre Dame Cougars at CFC ‘HM’ L.C.I. Rams
Sat. Nov. 10 – 4:00 p.m., U of L Community Stadium (Lethbridge)
Welcome back to the big show! Notre Dame’s foray into the Tier I playoffs marks the first time a Central Alberta team has done so since 2003 when L.C.I. dispatched Lindsay Thurber 49-20. That 2003 game was also the last time that L.C.I. beat out Raymond to advance in Provincials, a demon they exercised thoroughly last week with a 54-7 victory over the Comets, so it’s been a long time on either side of the ball.
CFC #17 Henry Wise Wood Warriors at CFC ‘#2’ Notre Dame Pride
Sat., Nov. 10 – 4:00 p.m., Hellard Field at Shouldice Park (Calgary)
In any other year the Henry Wise Wood Warriors would be the team to be feared out of Calgary. Solid coaching and a roster stocked with more Team Alberta U18 players than any other team in Alberta, the Warriors have had their way with every team in Calgary’s tough Division I league….except one. While the Warriors are on fire the Notre Dame Pride are in a different time zone score wise. Completely dismantling anything that comes there way, the Pride have outscored all eight opponents they have faced in their league and playoffs by a total of 338-9 including a 41-3 bouncing of Henry Wise Wood on Sept. 28 and a 59-0 bombing of Bishop O’Byrne Tuesday’s league semi-final. The Warriors are a hellava team but…….
PAST TIER I CHAMPIONS
1986 – Salibury Sabres 1993 – L.C.I Rams 2000 – Strathcona Lords 2007 – St. Francis Browns
1987 – Harry Ainlay Titans 1994 – L.C.I Rams 2001 – Strathcona Lords 2008 – Raymond Comets
1988 – L.C.I. Rams 1995 – St. Francis Browns 2002 – Bev Facey Falcons 2009 – Raymond Comets
1989 – L.C.I. Rams 1996 – Raymond Comets 2003 – St. Francis Browns 2010 – Raymond Comets
1990 – L.C.I Rams 1997 – Raymond Comets 2004 – St. Francis Browns 2011 – Harry Ainlay Titans
1991 – Henry Wise Wood 1998 – Raymond Comets 2005 – Raymond Comets
1992 – L.C.I. Rams 1999 – Jasper Place Rebels 2006 – Salisbury Sabres
TIER II (School Pop. 750-1249)
Northern Semi-Finals
Lloydminster Barons at McNally Tigers
Sat. Nov. 10 – 12:00 p.m., Foote Field (Edmonton)
Two consistent participants in the Provincial Tier II playoffs but two teams who have never played each other at this level. The Barons have been a staple in the Tier II playoffs, qualifying for them every year since 1990 with the exception of last season when Bonnyville beat them out in the Wheatland playoffs. The Tigers have been the Edmonton Public rep for the last three seasons with one Championship Game appearance in 2009 when they were shutout by Foothills 35-0. Both teams fell short in their league playoffs with McNally bowing to W.P. Wagner in the Public Leagues Gillfillan Conference Final last weekend and Lloydminster losing out in the Wheatland semi-finals the week before. The winner hosts next week.
St. Josephs Celtics at Austin O’Brien Crusaders
Sat. Nov. 10 – 2:30 p.m., Foote Field (Edmonton)
The second part of Tier II double header at Foote Field this weekend sees a much anticipated clash between the defending Provincial Champion Crusaders and the Mighty Peace Champion Celtics. The Celtics are 10-0 and on a tear while the Crusaders have spun their wheels a bit in the tough Edmonton Metro Carr Conference going 4-4 in league play and losing out to Bev Facey in the semi-finals. Still, they are the defending champions and well seasoned in the ways of Provincials so a dangerous team to face in the first round for the high flying #2 ranked Celtics. Should be a fun one.
Southern Semi-Finals
Catholic Central Cougars at St. Mary’s Saints
Sat., Nov. 10 – 3:00 p.m., Stampeder Field at Shouldice Park (Calgary)
Only two seasons removed from their first ever Provincial Tier II Title in 2010, the Catholic Central Cougars are back, undefeated, and sporting the #1 ranking for the bulk of the season. A great season for sure but their reward is a tough one indeed as the St. Mary’s Saints are undefeated in Calgary Division 2/3 and pushing for a League Championship at the same time they are heading for Provincials (long story J). The game will be held in the Saints back yard at Shouldice where they have been unbeatable this season. The Cougars are #1 for a reason but now they have to prove it on-field so it should be a good one in Calgary this Saturday. The winner hosts next weekend.
Hunting Hills Lightning at Springbank Phoenix
Sat. Nov. 10 – 11:30 a.m., Encana Field at Shouldice Park (Calgary)
Hunting Hills has been hunting a Tier II title for the past three years but only has one other appearance to show for it bowing out in the South Semi’s two years ago to St. Mary’s 11-3. This year they come in undefeated at 8-0-1 and as Central Alberta Champs. Facing them are the Springbank Phoenix who used to be a pretty consistent participant in Tier III in the 1990s winning it all in 1997. Now having moved up to Tier II, the Phoenix are the first representative at that level from the Rockyview league to make it out of Region 2 since George McDougall in 1999 with a 17-10 win over perennial Region 2 rep Foothills last Saturday.
PAST TIER II CHAMPIONS
1986 – Stettler Wildcats 1992 – Cardston Cougars 1998 – Cochrane Cobras 2005 – St. Mary’s Saints
1987 – Cardston Cougars 1993 – Cardston Cougars 1999 – George McDougall 2006 – Foothills Falcons
1988 – Salisbury Sabres 1994 – Lloydminster Barons 2000 – Foothills Falcons 2007 – Notre Dame Pride
1989 – Archbishop Jordan Scots 1995 – Brooks Buffalos 2001 – Med. Hat Mohawks 2008 – Notre Dame Pride
1990 – Cardston Cougars 1996 – Cochrane Cobras 2002 – Arch. Jordan Scots 2009 – Foothills Falcons
1991 – Cardston Cougars 1997 – Brook Buffalos 2003 – Arch. Jordan Scots 2010 – Catholic Central Cougars
2004 – Foothills Falcons 2011 – Austin O’Brien Crusaders
TIER III (School Pop. 450-749)
Northern Semi-Finals
Peace River Pioneers at St. Albert Skyhawks
Sat. Nov. 10 – 1:00 p.m., Riel Park (St. Albert)
A rematch from last year won by Skyhawks 35-14 in Peace River these two teams sport similar records and both lost in their respective League Championships last Saturday. This game will be the first ever Provincial High School game held at St. Albert’s Riel Park thus making the first time a St. Albert team of any stripe has enjoyed true home field advantage in Provincials. The Pioneers have done their normal barnstorming in the Province this year and are the only team to have defeated Tier II St. Mary’s from Calgary so far so they know how to play on the road. The winner hosts next week.
St. Paul Lions at Stettler Wildcats
Sat. Nov. 10 – 1:00 p.m., William E. Hay H.S. (Stettler)
St. Paul hasn’t been to Provincials since 2007 when these same Wildcats defeated them 14-7. In fact in five previous appearances only once have the Lions gotten out of the first round so this year’s team, who collected a Wheatland League Championship last Saturday, has its work cut out for it. Tough way to start though as their first opponent is the defending Provincial Tier III Champion Wildcats who sport only one loss on their record so far and hope to string together the same run of success that saw them come out of nowhere to win the Tier III title in convincing fashion last year.
Southern Semi-Finals
Crescent Height Vikings at Cochrane Cobras
Sat. Nov. 10 – 4:30 p.m., Encana Field at Shouldice Park (Calgary)
Cochrane’s run of 22 straight seasons of qualifying for provincials came within a missed FG that hit the crossbar last Saturday to preserve a 16-14 win over the powerful Rundle College Cobras of being ended. Now the road gets harder from here with their next trick being a date with the #1 Tier III team in the Province, the undefeated Rangeland Champion Crescent Heights Vikings. The Cobras do have history on their side which includes those 22 straight years of appearing but also an 11-1 record in first round games in Provincials since 2000. The Vikings are 1-4 in first round games over that same time period but the good news is the one win came last year before they bowed to these same Cobras 42-7 in last years Southern Tier III final. Are the Vikings ready for prime-time or will the Cobras record of success continue?
Olds Spartans at Winston Churchill Bulldogs
Sat., Nov. 10 – 1:30 p.m., U of L Community Stadium (Lethbridge)
This game is a bit of a mystery with not much known about the combatants. Olds ran up a record of 4-5 in exhibition and regular season play in the Big Sky Conference while Winston Churchill flew so far under the radar this year they were practically underground. Still the Bulldogs won when it counted with a 12-4 victory over Cardston last weekend in the Southern Alberta League Tier III Final punching their ticket to Provincials for the second straight year. The Spartans one and only other Tier III Provincial appearance came in 2010 when they lost 22-6 to the eventual Tier III Champion Cardston Cougars in the first round.
PAST TIER III CHAMPIONS
1986 – Cochrane Cobras 1992 – Raymond Comets 1998 – McCoy Colts 2005 – Cochrane Cobras
1987 – Cochrane Cobras 1993 – Bert Church Chargers 1999 – W.R. Myers Rebels 2006 – Wetaskiwin Sabres
1988 – Medicine Hat Mohawks 1994 – Wainwright Commandos 2000 – W.R. Myers Rebels 2007 – Cochrane Cobras
1989 – Will Sinclair Rebels 1995 – Kate Andrews Spartans 2001 – W.R. Myers Rebels 2008 – Cochrane Cobras
1990 – Raymond Comets 1996 – Sexsmith Sabres 2002 – Cochrane Cobras 2009 – Brooks Buffalos
1991 – Raymond Comets 1997 – Springbank Phoenix 2003 – Cochrane Cobras 2010 – Cardston Cougars
2004 – Cochrane Cobras 2011 – Stettler Wildcats
TIER IV (School Pop. 449 or less)
Northern Semi-Finals
Ardrossan Bisons at Sexsmith Sabres
Sat. Nov. 10 – TBA p.m., Legion Field (Grande Prairie)
Alberta’s most prolific dance partners at the Tier IV level get it on again at Foote Field. These two teams met in some classic first round bouts in 2001, 2004 & 2005, and after a couple of years break, when Ardrossan’s population exceeded 450, renewed hostilities for the last four seasons with the first two being Bison victories before a 20-16 upset by the Sabres on home turf two years ago followed by last year’s 58-6 pasting by the Bisons. Both teams have been out of work for the past few weeks with Sexsmith an early casualty in the Mighty Peace playoffs and the Bisons not even making the Metro Carr Conference Playoffs. Still, both teams have played well against ranked competition from higher Tiers so its anyone’s game this Saturday in Grande Prairie. Winner hosts next weekend.
West Central Rebels at Cold Lake Royals
Sat. Nov. 10 – 1:00 p.m., Soholt Field (Cold Lake)
These two teams had some pretty good dust-ups in the 1990’s when both were Tier III sized but since the new divisions came in with the addition of Tier IV in 1999, although constant representatives in Provincials they have pretty much been strangers since 1998. Cold Lake is new to Tier IV this year and come into this game as Wheatland League Finalists, while the Rebels have had a win one, lose one season in the tough Central Alberta League. Still, both teams are no stranger to Provincial play and could put a run together easily so it’s anyone’s game in Cold Lake this Saturday.
Southern Semi-Finals
Pincher Creek Mustangs at Drumheller Titans
Sat. Nov. 10 – 1:30 p.m., Drumheller High School (Drumheller)
Other than a brief foray for Ardrossan in Week #6 both of these teams have held down the #1 ranking at one time or another for the rest of the season. Pincher Creek’s loss to Willow Creek last weekend has put them in this position of not only losing the #1 ranking but having to go on the road in the first round to the defending Tier IV Champions. Both teams run a “conservative” offense that very much looks like trench warfare which is somewhat appropriate as we approach Remembrance Day so look for some pounding it along the ground in the Valley of the Dinosaurs this Saturday.
Highwood Mustangs at Willow Creek Cobras
Sat., Nov. 10 – 1:00 p.m., Willow Creek High School (Claresholm)
Highwood has an initial problem of having to play in the Big Rock Conference which features powerhouses in Rundle College, Foothills, and Holy Trinity Academy all of whom were ranked highly in higher Tier’s this season thus making their record less than desirable. Their second problem is the Willow Creek Cobras who are peaking at the right time, having won a nailbiter over Pincher Creek last Friday 28-27 to get to this spot. Still, the Mustangs are battle tested and well rested for this game so it could be interesting in Claresholm this Saturday.
PAST TIER IV CHAMPIONS
1999 – Oilfields Drillers 2005 – Ardrossan Bisons 2011 – Drumheller Titans
2000 – Oilfields Drillers 2006 – Willow Creek Cobras
2001 – Ardrossan Bisons 2007 – Sylvan Lake Lakers
2002 – Bow Valley Bobcats 2008 – Ardrossan Bisons
2003 – Bow Valley Bobcats 2009 – Rundle College Cobras
2004 – Ardrossan Bisons 2010 – Rundle College Cobras
6-MAN
Northern Semi-Finals
Eastglen Blue Devils vs. Westwood Trojans
12:00 p.m. , Westwood H.S. (Fort McMurray)
Thank god for 6-Man Football as the Eastglen Blue Devils, who for many years represented the Edmonton Public in Tier II Provincials, can keep their football tradition alive as their school population drops. A decent year wins them a trip to Fort McMurray to take on the Trojans.
Father Mercredi Trappers vs. Millwoods Christian Royals
12:00 p.m., Clarke Stadium (Edmonton)
The defending 6-Man Provincial Champions from Father Mercredi have to start their defense on the road against a tough Millwoods Christian team
Southern Semi-Finals
Jasper Glaciers vs. Frank Maddock Warriors
3:00 p.m., Frank Maddock H.S. (Drayton Valley)
NOTE: Thursday, November 8, 2012
A first year team from Jasper gets to make the show and take on a traditional powerhouse in 6-Man. This game will be played on Thursday in Drayton Valley
J.C. Charyk Hawks vs. Rimbey Spartans
1:00 p.m., Rimbey H.S. (Rimbey)
NOTE: Played Tuesday, November 6, Rimbey 48 J.C. Charyk 6
J.C. Charyk from Hanna has a long history of Provincial Play at the Tier IV level but after switching to 9-Man a few years ago and now to 6-Man are right in the thick of things in Provincials again. Rimbey’s “Fall Break” in their school makes a Tuesday game a must for this week. .
PAST 6-MAN CHAMPIONS
2011 – Father Mercredi Trappers
Football Minor Provincials
Kick-off this Weekend!
Along with all the high school fun the Minor Provincials for Bantam (age 13-15) and Pee-Wee (age 11-12) start this weekend as well. Unlike high school they are only a two week event so all listed games are Provincial Semi-Finals.
2012 Football Alberta Minor Provincials
BANTAM
SEMI-FINALS – Saturday, November 10
Tier I
Cardston Cougars at Edmonton Chargers
Saturday, November 10, 5:00 p.m., John Bright Park (Edmonton)
Calgary Cowboys (Grey) at Lethbridge Rams
Saturday, November 10, 11:00 a.m., U of L Community Stadium (Lethbridge)
Tier II
Lindsay Thurber Raiders at Stony Plain Blue Bombers
Saturday, November 10, 11:00 a.m., John Bright Park (Edmonton)
Brooks Roadrunners at Calgary Cowboys (Navy)
Saturday, November 10, 11:30 a.m., Hellard Field at Shouldice Park (Calgary)
Tier III
St. Albert 49ers at Bonnyville Bandits
Saturday, November 10, 1:00 p.m., Walsh Field (Bonnyville)
Olds Bulldogs at Calgary Wildcats
Saturday, November 10, 2:00 p.m., Hellard Field at Shouldice Park (Calgary)
Tier IV
Grande Prairie Broncos at Camrose Buffaloes
Saturday, November 10, 2:00 p.m., John Bright Park (Edmonton)
Medicine Hat Hawks at Drumheller Titans
Saturday, November 10, 11:00 a.m., Drumheller H.S. (Drumheller)
PEE-WEE
Semi-Finals and Finals – Saturday, November 10
Tier I – FINAL
Calgary Cowboys (Navy) at Sherwood Park Bulldogs
Saturday, November 10, 2:00 p.m., Fuhr Athletic Park (Spruce Grove)
Tier II – FINAL
Calgary Cowboys (Grey) at Edmonton Mustangs
Saturday, November 10, 11:00 a.m., Fuhr Athletic Park (Spruce Grove)
Tier III – SEMI-FINAL
Lacombe Explosion at Calgary Stampeders
Saturday, November 10, 1:00 p.m., Stampeder Field at Shouldice Park (Calgary)
Parkland Predators – BYE
Tier IV – SEMI-FINAL
Stettler Panthers at Lloydminster Colts
Saturday, November 10, 1:00 p.m., Holy Rosary High School (Lloydminster)
St. Albert Colts – BYE
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