The season is over for the St. Albert Fury after the bantam football team was blown out 33-7 by the Edmonton Chargers in Sunday’s tier II final at Clarke Park.
The Chargers led 14-0 after the first quarter, 14-7 at halftime and 19-7 after three quarters.
The Fury fumbled the ball away three times in the first half and two more times in the third quarter.
The Fury were also flagged for a staggering amount of unnecessary roughness and objectionable conduct penalties throughout the lopsided affair. Two Fury players were ejected in the second half for roughhouse antics. Even the Fury coaching staff was warned by the referee to cool it after loudly complaining about a hold by the Chargers in front of the St. Albert bench on pass completion that was not called.
The Fury fans also gave the officiating crew a hard time over the parade of penalties and player expulsions.
The lone bright spot for the Fury was Tyler Berean-Dutcher’s five-yard touchdown run with 8:50 left in the first half. The converted major left the Fury trailing by seven.
The TD was set up by Berean-Dutcher’s diving catch at the five on third and 10. On the pass play, quarterback Matt Lewandoski rolled out to his right and while under pressure delivered the ball to the uncovered Fury receiver.
The score capped off a four-play drive after the rugged Jack Hanna picked up a Chargers’ fumble and bullied his way for several yards before getting gang-tackled at the Chargers’ 18.
In the third quarter, and the Chargers in front 17-7, Tyler Turner picked off a pass in the Fury endzone and was tackled at the three. On third down the Fury gave up a safety with 3:30 remaining until quarter time.
In the Capital District Minor Football Association’s tier I/II Johnny Bright division, the Fury beat the Chargers 20-14 on Sept. 6. Both teams finished the season with identical 4-6 records.
Last year the Fury finished 3-6 in their division and 5-7 in league play after edging the Millwoods Grizzlies 30-29 in the tier II final. They went on to tame the Stettler Cougars 20-12 in the northern Alberta semifinal and in the provincial final lost 34-32 to the Calgary Wildcats for an overall 6-8 record.
Several major Canada West award winners with the University of Alberta Pandas soccer team hail from St. Albert.
Keshia Wallin was named the conference MVP and first-team all-star at fullback. The fifth-year Panda recorded four goals and three assists, including two game-winning goals as a defender. She was also a second-team all-star in 2006, 2008 and 2009.
The graduate of St. Albert Catholic High School has international soccer experience with the FISU Summer Games in 2008 and 2009.
Also making the first all-star team was midfielder Carleigh Miller, a second-year Panda and St. Albert high grad.
The women’s coach of the year is Liz Jepsen. The former St. Albert high teacher and Paul Kane High School alumna guided the Pandas to a 10-2-2 record and first place in Canada West. The Pandas were undefeated until the final two weeks of the season, well after they had locked up first place and the right to host the conference final four playoffs last weekend at Foote Field. Under the direction of the former Pandas player, the team was ranked No. 1 in the country by week five. The Pandas stayed there until the final CIS rankings earlier this week, where they finished at No. 4.
In the Canada West playoffs, the Pandas were upset in the semifinals by the UBC Thunderbirds 2-1 in overtime. In the bronze medal match, the Pandas defeated the Trinity Western Spartans 3-2 in a shootout. Miller scored in regulation time.
Jessy Beley was the big award winner at the recent Tigers Baseball Association’s annual general meeting.
The first-year senior Tiger was honoured as the team’s most valuable player, whose on-field contribution throughout the season had the greatest impact on team dynamics and success.
Beley was also named rookie of the year.
The St. Albert minor baseball product and former junior Tabbie batted .425. His 34 hits included three home runs and 19 RBIs in 80 at-bats. He also scored 23 runs and only struck out 10 times.
The Hardman Award, presented annually to the person who does whatever he can for the team and goes above and beyond what is expected of team members, went to Kevin Hardman.
The pitcher of the year, as voted by his peers to be the most consistent performer, was Derek Dallorto. The veteran Tiger started eight games en route to a 4-2 record. He struck out 29 and walked 10 in 42.34 innings pitched. His ERA was 4.68.
