Whether the Bellerose Bulldogs won or lost yesterday's semifinal, they've made major strides in metro Edmonton high school football.
"We were the underdogs all year. We weren't expected to really win any games but we came together as a team and proved everyone wrong, " said Grade 12 tailback Grayson Baker after the Bulldogs trampled the Archbishop Jordan Scots 35-13 in the Carr conference playoffs on a chilly Tuesday night at Riel Park field.
Friday's score against the Salisbury Sabres from Clarke Park was unavailable at deadline. The winner plays the reigning champion Bev Facey Falcons (5-0 league; 8-0 overall) or St. Albert High Skyhawks (3-3 league; 4-4 overall) in the Nov. 6 final.
"To make it as far as we have is great," said Grade 12 fullback Devin Kondro. "We've performed extremely well. I'm very proud of the guys."
The Bulldogs finished third in the six-team conference at 2-2-1 with the lowest-scoring offence (30 PF and were shut out twice) and the third-best defence (79 PA).
They made the leap of faith into the very tough Carr conference after two years in the Miles conference posting records of 2-5 in 2008 and 6-2-1 last year. The Bulldogs also won the 2007 Miles championship when teams were divided into two pools in league play to determine the Carr and Miles playoff brackets.
"To move up into this level has been absolutely amazing," Kondro said. "Am I surprised? A little bit but we have a good bunch of talented guys and if we put in the effort we can really perform in a top division."
Their best game of the season, if not in team history, was the 7-0 humdinger against the Skyhawks to halt a seven-game losing streak in the Battle of St. Albert. The Oct. 7 tilt was staged before the biggest turnout to witness a high school football tilt in St. Albert.
"Beating SACHS of course was pretty huge," Kondro said of the first victory ever by the Bellerose senior team against the rival Skyhawks.
The Bulldogs' last game before the opening playoff round was a disturbing 30-0 loss to Salisbury (4-1 league; 5-2 overall), the seventh-ranked tier I (school population 1,250-plus) team in Alberta.
"It was definitely a tough game. We thought we would perform well but we didn't," Kondro said. "Now that we've got a taste of them we'll make some adjustments and we'll come out strong."
Salisbury tacked up seven points in the first quarter, led by 13 at halftime and sealed the deal with 17 points in the third quarter. Their totals included field goals from 30, 23 and 27 yards.
"They execute very well. They have a big O-line and a big D-line," Kondro said. "They got some key players that we've got to watch out for."
Going into the rematch the odds were stacked heavily against the Bulldogs.
"After a huge loss like that against them we're going to be underdogs for sure but that's better for us. We don't have that pressure," Baker said. "We know they're going to come out hard. They also don't make mistakes. Sherwood Park teams are well coached and we're going to have to be just like them."
Heading into the playoffs the Bulldogs were feeling the heat after their worst performance this year.
"The Sal loss really put us down but we played Jordan before and we knew what we were coming into. We were prepared and ready," said Kondro, who scored two touchdowns against the last-place Scots (0-5-1).
Scots stopped
In the season opener both teams struggled through a 6-6 draw that was painful to watch.
"We wanted to come in and pound them after we tied them and we did it," Baker said. "It was the best offensive game we've had this season. It was a great team effort and we kept our composure at the end."
After a scoreless opening quarter, the Bulldogs led 21-7 at halftime and 28-7 after three quarters. The Scots ended the game with an unconverted TD.
"We came out absolutely pumped. I've never been so pumped in my life. I was super excited," said Kondro, 17.
The Sturgeon Composite High School student was a dominating presence in the backfield as a power runner and ferocious blocker for Baker and Robert Blunden to gain big yardage.
"Our offence really pounded the ball. Baker and Blunden did a great job. They followed my blocks perfectly. They performed very well," said Kondro, who rushed for 258 yards on 50 carries in league play.
The senior Bulldogs' MVP the last two years was also a beast on defence while alternating between nose tackle and linebacker.
"At times we looked like a very good defence. We played very hard, but were very aggressive and they used our aggressiveness against us by running counters and stuff like that," Kondro said.
After fumbling the opening kickoff at their 33, the Bulldogs hung tough to force the Scots to punt on third and 12 from the Bellerose 23. Baker was able to get the ball out of the end zone with a great second effort. The rest of the quarter turned into a punt-fest. The best play offensively for the Bulldogs was Tayler White's 25-yard dash to midfield.
In the second quarter, the Bulldogs drove the ball from their 37 on the strength of two major plays by Baker: a 14-yard reception from Ryan Ozunko and a galloping 51-yard run. On second and go from the nine, Ozunko nailed White with a sharp TD pass.
The second TD by the Bulldogs was a 34-yard romp by Baker.
The Scots got on the board with a 51-yard TD run through sloppy tackling.
With 2:40 left until halftime, Tyler Lett's 28-yard TD grab in the far corner of the end zone from Ozunko capped off a drive from the Scots' 53. Letts was wide open on the play, as Ozunko gunned the ball to the little Bulldog while rolling out to his right. A nice kick off return by Kondro left the Bulldogs in good shape offensively to move the ball down field.
As the first half wound down, the Bulldogs recovered a fumble at their 45 that took the wind of the Scots' sails. The next time Bellerose was on defence, Baker uncorked a huge hit from his safety position to break up a pass play.
The half ended with Baker stopped short of a TD on a long run from close to midfield.
Early in the second half, after the Bulldogs recovered their own kick off, play was halted when a player from the Scots suffered what was believed to be a broken rib. After he was loaded into the ambulance, play resumed and Kondro busted into the end zone from six yards out.
Kondro's second TD was an athletic catch in the end zone as Ozunko wired the ball for the 12-yard major.
Adam Anderson converted all five TDs.
"We had great blocking all game. That's why we scored so many touchdowns," said Baker, 17, who racked up 260 yards with a conference-high 52 carries in league play.
The team's leading rusher against the Scots also had a TD called back in what was arguably his best game of the season.
"I just go play and have fun. That's what I like to do," said the Bellerose Composite High School student.
