PRESS RELEASE
TO: All Media/Press Outlets (ATT: Sports Director/Editor)
FROM: Alberta Schools’ Athletic Association/Football Alberta
RE: High School and Minor Football Provincial Playoffs
DATE: Tuesday, November 6, 2012
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The following are the draws for the 2012 ASAA Provincial High School Football Playoffs that will lead up to the fourth Alberta Bowl. The times and locations are included as well as the provincial ranking of the teams (as determined by Football Alberta) and contacts for each team involved. For general information about the draw and the playoffs please contact:
Ms. Michelle Ross - ASAA Deputy Director (780)427-8182(B)
Mr. Tim Enger - Football Alberta (Results Coord.) (780)905-7822(C)
Mr. Rick Gilson - ASAA Football Commissioner (780)978-5367(C)
TIER I (School Pop. 1250+)
Northern Semi-Finals
#1 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.
Contacts: Grande Prairie – Lee Brentnell (780)532-7721(B) Spruce Grove – Chris Fricker (780)850-0042(H)
#7 Jasper Place Rebels at #3 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.
Contacts: Jasper Place – Ryan David (780)408-9000(B)Bev Facey – Curtis Martin (780)467-0044(B)
Southern Semi-Finals
#8 Notre Dame Cougars at #5 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.
Contacts: Notre Dame – Gino Castellan (403)342-4800(B) L.C.I. – Darren Majeran (403)328-9606(B)
#4 Henry Wise Wood Warriors at #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…….
Contacts: Henry Wise Wood – Cody Erhmann (403)253-2261(B) Notre Dame – David Diluzio (403)242-1801
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
#10 Lloydminster Barons at #8 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.
Contacts: Lloydminster – Ken Fisher (780)875-8929(B) McNally – Senny Leong (780)469-0442(B)
#2 St. Josephs Celtics at #6 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.
Contacts: St. Josephs – Trevor Prichard (780)532-7779(B) Austin O’Brien – Darcy Ogonoski (403)466-3161(B)
Southern Semi-Finals
#1 Catholic Central Cougars at #3 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.
Contacts: Catholic Central – Anthony Vercillo (403)593-9575(C) St. Mary’s – Bill McConkey (403)228-5810(B)
#4 Hunting Hills Lightning at #5 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.
Contacts: Hunting Hills – Kyle Sedgwick (403)342-7799(B) Springbank–Tony Lucas(403)246-4771(B)
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 Scots1995 - 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
#7 Peace River Pioneers at #6 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.
Contacts: Peace River – Chris Friskie (780)624-4221(B) St. Albert –Sam Johnson(780)459-7781(B)
#3 St. Paul Lions at #4 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.
Contacts: St. Paul – Todd Tanasichuk (780)645-4491(B) Stettler – Norbert Baharally (403)742-3466(B)
Southern Semi-Finals
#1 Crescent Height Vikings at #2 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?
Contacts: Cochrane – Rob McNab (403)932-2542(B) Crescent Heights – Dustin Ressler (403)527-6641
#9 Olds Spartans at #8 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.
Contacts:Olds –George Grant(403)556-3391(B) Winston Churchill – Jon Dick (403)328-2746(B)
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