In a game featuring the top Grade 12 high school football players in the province, Central Albertans helped Team North to a memorable victory.
North won 31-10 over Team South in the 34th edition of the Senior Bowl at the Encana Dome at Shouldice Park in Calgary on Jan. 5.
The North jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter on touchdown passes from Beaumont's Wesley Neitz to Marcus Crandell from Bellerose (St. Albert) and Dawson Hunter from Spruce Grove.
The score stayed that way until early in the third quarter when Neitz hooked up with Crandell again to push it to 21-0.
The South got on the scoreboard on the next drive with a 34 yard field goal from Ryan Chirzynski from Holy Trinity Academy in Okotoks and make it interesting early in the fourth on a 39 yard touchdown pass from HTA's Declan Lyth to Notre Dame (Calgary)'s Aaron Oboh drawing to 21-10.
From there, the North closed out with a FG from Bellerose's Santiago Norena and a final touchdown pass from Sylvan Lake's Jace Martin to St. Francis Xavier (Edmonton)'s Edward Davies to make the final 31-10.
Crandell from the North and Crescent Heights (Calgary) Marcus Williams for the South picked up Offensive MVP awards for the Game while the Defensive MVP awards went to Spruce Grove's Brody Bursey for the North and W.H. Croxford's (Airdrie) Joseph Abou Mechrek for the South. Paul Kane (St. Albert)'s James Carr was named the Lanny Boleski Memorial Lineman of the Game.
Notre Dame Cougars' running back, Thomas Barrett, also represented Team North on offence.
On the defensive side of the ball, specialist Jaxon Sharp (Hunting Hills), as well as defensive backs Brian Robinson (Lindsay Thurber) and Damien Bertram (Lindsay Thurber), represented Central Alberta in the game.
