Bellerose Bulldogs vs. Harry Ainlay Titans
Friday, Nov 3, @ 7:30pm., Commonwealth Stadium (Edmonton)
The Metro Edmonton Division I Championship game will pin the Bellerose Bulldogs against Northern Alberta’s only undefeated team out there, the Harry Ainlay Titans.
The game alone is an exciting match-up between two fiercely competitive teams however, it is much more than meets the eye.
For the first time in their 39 year history as one of Canada’s most historic venues, Commonwealth Stadium will be hosting this Metro Edmonton high school football championship.
Before the Carr Division I final, Commonwealth will be occupying the Miles Division II final between the Paul Kane Blues (5-1) and the Strathcona Lords (6-0) at 5:00pm.
Seating up to 60,000 people, Commonwealth joins several Canadian stadiums that host highly-raved about high school football games (photo courtesy: City of Edmonton)
Edmonton now joins the few cities in North America that have exclusively featured their biggest high school games in their official stadiums.
Football Alberta mentions how American stadiums like Heinz Field in Pittsburgh and AT&T Stadium in Texas have been doing this for years.
McMahon Stadium in Regina, B.C. Place in Vancouver and Mosaic Field in Calgary are also on the list of Canadian cities continuing on the tradition.
It will be an amazing opportunity for these high schoolers to get a taste of the turf in Commonwealth, the home of the Edmonton Eskimos.
At 7-0, the Titans have earned their right at the top of the pack replacing three-time defending Carr Conference champions, the Bev Facey Falcons. The Falcons had their chance at a playoffs taken by the hands of the Bellerose Bulldogs (31-27).
CFC100 Lwal Uguak taking down an opponent in their 38-3 win against the Salisbury Sabres (photo courtesy: Trevor Spaulding)
Defeating Austin O’Brien was the closest match-up the Titans have had in their season since the beginning of the month against Bev Facey (19-10). A 16-point deficit being the closest to a defeat is quite an accomplishment.
Although the Harry Ainlay stands untouched, the Bellerose Bulldogs have been grinding since pre-season with a 8-2 record, their best season in years and also the most games played by a Tier I team in the province according to Football Alberta.
Senior QB Quade Kozak is carried off Clarke Park field against the Salisbury Sabres last week after sustaining an ankle injury (photo courtesy: Salisbury Sabres Football)
Their semi-final win (38-29) against the Salisbury Sabres was bittersweet with their starting quarterback Quade Kozak blowing an ankle during the game.
In his last regulation game as a Bulldog, the young man certainly went out fighting for the win.
“Although it sucks having to end my high school season early I have no nerves going into Friday because I know there is other talent on the team that in big games step up and turn into super football players.”
Since he will not be competing in Friday’s final, Kozak will be cheering on his teammates on the sidelines.
The highly anticipated championship will spark a friendship between the city of Edmonton and its high school football community. A huge opportunity for these boys that may become a familiar feeling in their football career.
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