On Saturday November 16th, 2013, the Alberta Schools Athletic Association (ASAA) Regional Finals will take place.  This will be a tune-up to the fifth Alberta Bowl.

The following are previews of all the regional finals:

TIER 1:

Northern Final

CFC # 22 Henry Wise Wood Warriors vs CFC # 15 Salisbury Sabres

Sat. Nov. 16 – 2:30 a.m., Clarke Stadium (Edmonton)

CFC # 15 Henry Wise Wood continues to be the road Warriors as they head to Edmonton for the second week in a row in the first of two “Battle of Alberta” style Edmonton vs. Calgary Regional Finals.  The Warriors received a gift two weeks ago as the Grande Prairie Warriors pulled out of Provincials thus opening up a spot for a third Calgary team to enter the north side of the draw in Tier I.   They didn’t know they needed this gift until their upset loss to St. Francis in the Calgary Division I Semi-Finals but they have taken full advantage of this strafing the defending Tier I Northern Champion Spruce Grove Panthers for 63 points last Saturday to advance them to this spot.  Facing them is the always tough CFC # 15 Salisbury Sabres who come in as the Champions of the new Division I league in the Edmonton Metro.  Having handled the murderer’s row of games they had each week in that Division and coming out as champs speaks volumes about the character and skill present in the Sabres line-up.   The Warriors are full measure for their higher ranking but this is the Sabres territory so it will be a game not to be missed.

Southern Final

CFC # 32 Harry Ainlay Titans vs. CFC # 2 Notre Dame Pride

Sat., Nov. 16 – 1:00 p.m., Hellard Field at Shouldice Park (Calgary)

The last two Tier I Provincial Champions meet in Calgary this Saturday in the other half of the “Battle of Alberta” Tier I Regional Final show.  The CFC # 32 Harry Ainlay Titans were in dry dock for two weeks after their loss in the Edmonton Semi-Finals to Spruce Grove but bounced back nicely with a 28-12 win in Lethbridge last week against L.C.I. in the Southern Semi-Final. Their reward is another road trip and this time a huge challenge in the defending Tier I Champion Pride.  Another year, another set of blowouts for the CFC # 2 Notre Dame Pride as no one in Calgary Division I came within  three touchdowns of Notre Dame in any game, plus their average margin of victory to date in arguably the toughest league in Canada is 42-6. Ouch!  The Road to the Alberta Bowl always seemed destined to go through Notre Dame so the Titans have their work cut out for them.

PAST TIER I CHAMPIONS

1986 – Salisbury 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    2012 – Notre Dame Pride

1992 – L.C.I. Rams                1999 – Jasper Place Rebels              2006 – Salisbury Sabres

TIER 2:

Northern Final

Paul Kane Blues vs. Austin O’Brien Crusaders

Sat. Nov. 16 – 11:30 a.m., Clarke Stadium (Edmonton)

So is it better to be a non-playoff team in Edmonton Division I or the Champion of Edmonton Division II?  This Saturday’s Northern Tier II Final features two teams that took very different paths to get to this point. The two-time defending Provincial Tier II Champion Crusaders chose to run the gauntlet of powerful Tier I teams in Division I, with an up and down year that saw them miss the playoffs as a result of points for and against.  The Blues on the other hand, chose Division II and blasted their way through all comers winning that Division going away.  Paul Kane has a nasty habit of getting down by a couple of TD’s before firing up the scoring machine as they did again against St. Josephs last weekend overcoming 14-0 and 21-7 deficits before pouring it on to win 45-28.  AOB on the other had is still a bit of a mystery and might be much better than their ranking but with their track record of turning it on when it counts in Provincials this is a game not to be missed.

Southern Final

Catholic Central Cougars vs. Foothills Falcons

Sat., Nov. 16 – 1:00 p.m., Foothills High School (Okotoks)

An undefeated season and a home playoff game are good news for the Falcons.  The bad news is that the defending Southern Alberta Tier II Champion Cougars are coming to town.  Both programs have won it all in Tier II in the past five seasons so dealing with the pressure of this level of game is nothing new to them but the Cougars might have the edge having been to two of the last three finals.  An undefeated season doesn’t come easy and Foothills is full measure for it having slugged it out in the tough Big Rock Conference and also run the board in one of the most aggressive exhibition game schedule in Alberta.  The Cougars counter with the scars from their run through the traditionally strong Southern Alberta League, where they only dropped one game to eventual league champion Cardston.  One of the few games to be played on grass this Saturday so we’ll see what Mother Nature can bring to the table as well.

PAST TIER 2 CHAMPIONS:

1986 – Stettler Wildcats               1993 – Cardston Cougars          2000 – Foothills Falcons          2007 – Notre Dame Pride

1987 – Cardston Cougars             1994 – Lloydminster Barons   2001 – Med. Hat Mohawks     2008 – Notre Dame Pride

1988 – Salisbury Sabres                1995 – Brooks Buffalos          2002 – Arch. Jordan Scots       2009 – Foothills Falcons

1989 – Archbishop Jordan Scots 1996 – Cochrane Cobras         2003 – Arch. Jordan Scots       2010 – Catholic Central Cougars

1990 – Cardston Cougars             1997 – Brooks Buffalos          2004 – Foothills Falcons         2011 – Austin O’Brien Crusaders

1991 – Cardston Cougars             1998 – Cochrane Cobras        2005 – St. Mary’s Saints         2012 – Austin O’Brien Crusaders

1992 – Cardston Cougars             1999 – George McDougall    2006 – Foothills Falcons

TIER 3:

Northern Final:

Ardrossan Bisons vs. Sylvan Lake Lakers

Sat. Nov. 16 – 4:00 p.m., MEGlobal Athletic Park (Lacombe)

               The Lakers have opted to move from their icy grass field in Sylvan to the artificial turf in Lacombe.  Could be a risky move considering the prolific offense the Bisons bring to town.  Last year both of these teams were involved at different Tiers as the Bisons advanced all the way to the Provincial Tier IV final before losing to Drumheller for the second straight year while the Lakers lost out to Hunting Hills in their bid to be the Region 4 Tier II rep.  One year later with readjusted school population counts and you have two strong teams going for the Northern Championship in an unfamiliar Tier.  Hasn’t hurt them so far so Saturday should be fun.

Southern Final

 Cardston Cougars at Rundle College Cobras

Sat. Nov. 16 – 1:00 p.m., Rundle College Field (Calgary)

Its an all-snake playoffs so far for the Cardston Cougars and they will take on their second straight team of “Cobras” this Saturday in Calgary.  Last Saturday the Cougars, on the strength of a second half comeback, overcame the defending Tier III Champion Cochrane Cobras 35-28 and now the Rundle College Cobras are the opposition for this week. The Cobras were a power at the Tier IV level winning it all in 2009 and 2010 but have yet to crack through to the big dance in Tier III despite qualifying for Provincials the past two seasons after moving up.  Cardston’s only loss of the season came in a 34-14 exhibition loss to Foothills in the second week of the season.  Since then they have been unbeatable so another trip to Calgary is in order for them to try to reach their second Alberta Bowl, hosted this year in Calgary, in four seasons having last been there in 2010…in Calgary.

PAST TIER III CHAMPIONS

1986 – Cochrane Cobras                    1993 – Bert Church Chargers           2000 – W.R. Myers Rebels 2007 – Cochrane Cobras

1987 – Cochrane Cobras                    1994 – Wainwright Commandos     2001 – W.R. Myers Rebels  2008 – Cochrane Cobras

1988 – Medicine Hat Mohawks        1995 – Kate Andrews Spartans        2002 – Cochrane Cobras      2009 – Brooks Buffalos

1989 – Will Sinclair Rebels              1996 – Sexsmith Sabres                   2003 – Cochrane Cobras      2010 – Cardston Cougars

1990 – Raymond Comets                  1997 – Springbank Phoenix              2004 – Cochrane Cobras      2011 – Stettler Wildcats

1991 – Raymond Comets                  1998 – McCoy Colts                         2005 – Cochrane Cobras       2012 – Cochrane Cobras

1992 – Raymond Comets                 1999 – W.R.Myers Rebels                 2006 – Wetaskiwin Sabres

TIER 4:

Northern Final:

Holy Rosary Raiders vs. Cold Lake Royals

Sat. Nov. 16 – 1:00 p.m., Cold Lake High School (Cold Lake)

So how many times do you have to beat a team before you can get to the Provincial Tier IV Final?  Well, if your Holy Rosary, the answer is three since this will be the third time these two teams will meet having met twice in Wheatland League regular season and post-season play so far with both outcomes being victories for the Raiders (21-7 on Oct. 4 and 22-12 on Oct. 26).  Those margins of victories are close enough for both teams to expect another close game so will it be same as usual for Holy Rosary or third time lucky for Cold Lake?

Southern Finals

 Drumheller Titans at Willow Creek Cobras

Sat., Nov. 16 – 1:00 p.m., Willow Creek High School (Claresholm)

This game has been a while coming as both teams have once again put together strong resumes to be considered the best Tier IV team in the South.  Willow Creek dispatched everyone with ease at the Tier IV level in the Southern Alberta League while the two time defending Provincial Tier IV Champion Titans entered the Rangeland League this season and promptly came away as League Champions.  Last year in this game it was all Titans in a 47-7 romp in the Valley of the Dinosaurs while this year’s game goes on the high prairie at the base of the foothills in Claresholm.  Should be a rocking good time at Willow Creek H.S. this Saturday.

PAST TIER IV CHAMPIONS

1999 – Oilfields Drillers                       2005 – Ardrossan Bisons                    2011 – Drumheller Titans

2000 – Oilfields Drillers                       2006 – Willow Creek Cobras             2012 – Drumheller Titans

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 Final:

   

Breton Cougars at Rimbey Spartans
Sat., Nov. 16 – 1:30 p.m., MEGlobal Athletic Park (Lacombe)

                The Breton Cougars are the founding franchise in the explosion of 6-Man football across Alberta and are now on the verge of advancing to their first Alberta Bowl. Standing in their way however are the powerful Rimbey Spartans who made it to last year’s Alberta Bowl at the 6-Man level and will not go quietly.  The Spartans sport 6-Man’s only remaining undefeated record while their opponent, the Cougars, took out the other one last weekend so aren’t intimidated by that fact.  The middle game of a triple header in Lacombe should be a good one.

Southern Final:

Caroline Cougars vs. Millwoods Christian Royals
Sat., Nov. 16 – 2:30 p.m., Foote Field (Edmonton)

                Millwood Christian in the South?  We asked that question last week and the Royals answered with a resounding yes to give them the right to host the Southern Final 120 km’s north of the Northern Final.  Oh well – details J.  The Cougars are in new territory having never advanced this far while the Royals are looking to defend their Alberta Bowl Championship.  Both games are played on artificial turf which will help the already speedy game.

   

PAST 6-MAN CHAMPIONS

2011 – Father Mercredi Trappers

2012 – Millwoods Christian Royals