The Bellerose Bulldogs and St. Albert High Skyhawks huddle up this week in metro Edmonton high school football.
The Bulldogs are in tough Thursday against the Bev Facey Falcons. The 2009 tier I provincial finalists and three-time defending Carr conference champions are ranked second provincially in tier I (school population 1,250-plus). Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. at Sherwood Park.
The Bulldogs are coming off a bye week. Their season opener was a 6-6 tie with the Archbishop Jordan Scots at Riel Park field. Last week the Falcons (4-0 overall) whipped the Scots 54-0.
Last year the Bulldogs and Scots competed in the Miles conference. Bellerose finished second in the standings and 6-2-1 overall as the Miles semifinalists. The Scots placed fifth at 4-4.
The Skyhawks are in action Friday against the Scots at 7:30 p.m. at Clarke Park. Last week the Skyhawks (2-1 overall) defeated the Austin O’Brien Crusaders 21-7 in St. Albert. The Crusaders (1-3 overall) are ranked ninth provincially in tier II (school population 750 to 1,249). The Scots are unranked in tier II.
Next week the Skyhawks travel to California to play the Lutheran High Lancers in Orange County. They return home to battle the Bulldogs on Oct. 6. Game time is 6 p.m. at Riel Park. The Skyhawks have never lost a game to Bellerose in senior or junior, and are 16-0 overall since the first St. Albert showdown in 1999. The last senior tilt between the St. Albert rivals was the 38-0 shutout by the Skyhawks in 2007.
The deadline for online registrations for the eighth annual Fall Challenge is tonight at 11:59 p.m.
To sign up for Sunday’s races on the Red Willow trail system, visit www.events.runningroom.com. Information is also available at www.sva-club.com.
Start times are 8 a.m. for the 21.1-kilometre half marathon walk, 9 a.m. for the half marathon run (two laps on the trail), 10 km (one lap) and five km and 11:30 a.m. for the kids’ .5 km loop (no pre-registration required). The start/finish line is at Kingswood Park.
Last year’s record turnout featured 432 runners and walkers.
Jack Cook of Edmonton repeated as the half-marathon winner at one hour, 19 minutes and 26 seconds. His winning time two years ago was 1:16:12 as the lead runner ahead of 162 finishers.
Tammy Mollenkoph of St. Albert was the fastest female in 2009 at 1:35:40. She placed 14th overall out of 187 finishers.
In the 10 km David Livingstone of St. Albert successfully defended his race crown by going 38:31. His time in 2008 was 37:47.
The top female in the 10 km was Charmaine Brooks of St. Albert at 47:54.
The Fall Challenge is hosted by the Sturgeon Valley Athletic Club.
Interested volunteers can call Christine Rasmussen at 780-904-4114.
Donations to the St. Albert Food Bank will also be accepted the morning of the event.
