Okotoks football shined bright on the U18 national stage.
Team Alberta shook off a controversial semifinal loss to capture bronze at the Football Canada Cup on July 13 at Regina’s Mosaic Stadium with Okotoks runningback Seth Poelzer earning Tournament Offensive MVP honours.
Poelzer, one of five Holy Trinity Academy Knights on Team Alberta along with offensive lineman Matt Callahan, defensive lineman Ben Haden, linebacker Jack Bjorge and defensive back Thomas Rowan, had over 100 yards rushing in the first two games.
In the tournament debut, Alberta scored a 22-0 shutout over New Brunswick with Poelzer posting 121 yards rushing and Haden registering two tackles and a fumble recovery.
Controversy struck in the ensuing semifinal where Alberta took a 12-11 loss to Quebec.
Following a post-game appeal, Football Canada acknowledged an error was made by the officials in allowing the game to be extended on a time count violation and Quebec to kick the winning field goal with no time left in regulation.
“Feeling like you’ve won a game and the chance to advance to a gold medal game was taken away by a call and this can trigger a torrent of emotions,” said Football Canada president Jim Mullin, in a release. “But the human element is central to sport, and mistakes are part of that element. We need to remind ourselves in these moments that we are as good as we treat others.”
Poelzer had 109 yards rushing and a touchdown in the semifinal. Rowan was the defensive MVP in the game with two tackles and Bjorge posted 2.5 tackles.
Alberta rallied from the adversity and powered to a 35-0 win over the host Saskatchewan to win bronze with authority on July 13. Poelzer caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from Alberta quarterback Kohen Bohnet, the team’s second of the game.
In the gold medal game, Ontario overpowered Quebec 45-7 for its first U18 national title since 2014.
Football Alberta is back on the gridiron next weekend with another competition with strong Okotoks ties.
HTA head coach Matt Hassett leads Team Alberta’s U17 squad as it goes for the Western Canada Showcase in Calgary from July 20-27. HTA runningback Lincoln Stewart and linebacker Wyatt Koopman are part of the U17 team.
Two-time defending champion Team Alberta then goes for the three-peat in the National Women’s U18 Football Championship from July 22-28 in Fredericton, N.B. Okotoks’ Sidanee Bowers, a recent HTA grad, has been a part of all three teams for Team Alberta.
For more information, go to footballalberta.ab.ca.
