For veterans of the Foothills Composite Falcons football team the fact they have never beaten their cross-town rivals in their careers is like a bad case of athlete’s feet.
To look at them you wouldn’t think it bothers them a bit, but internally it’s driving them nuts.
The Holy Trinity Academy (HTA) Knights have won the last three games between the two schools, including a 31-3 win in the Big Rock Football League final last October to end the Falcons’ season.
Falcons quarterback Taylor Armsworthy said he hopes to learn from that experience and try to keep things in perspective when the Knights and the Falcons square off this Friday.
“Offensively we just couldn’t get anything going and as the quarterback you try to take game in your hands and if the game doesn’t go your way you really start to get down on yourself,” said Armsworthy. “As a senior, it’s very important to beat HTA. I think the rivalry has really picked up. The game has become more important than just bragging rights. We just have to remember that it is just another game.”
He said more important than bragging rights is the fact the tilt is a Big Sky Football League game and if Foothills wins it will guarantee a home game for the playoffs.
When the rivalry started in 2004 it was about as competitive as the Americans invading Grenada with Foothills beating the upstart Knights for three consecutive years.
However, since then the balance of power has shifted as HTA has won five of the last six games.
HTA middle linebacker Sam Stange knows full well with a victory this Friday, he will be one of a few Knights who played three years without losing to the Falcons.
“I am very aware of that,” Stange said. “It would be a real big accomplishment for the guys who have been here for three years. The Comp game has a different mentality to it. There are lots of fans and there’s a lot of excitement.”
Stange is the last HTA Knight who played with the now defunct Foothills Bantam Falcons. Present Foothills Falcons Taylor Armsworthy, Brent Williams and Ryan Cole were on that team.
“I know a bunch of us (on the Knights) know a lot of guys on the Falcons and that just enhances the rivalry,” Stange said. “We talked to them and bragging rights are big.”
He is not about to say the power has shifted north to HTA. The Comp beat the Harry Ainlay Titans, the defending Tier I provincial champions, 42-21 on Sept. 7 in Okotoks. It was a big win, but the Falcons would like to get the green-black-and-white monkey of their backs this Friday.
The Knights know the Falcons are coming for them.
“I watched Foothills beat Harry Ainlay and that was a big wake-up call,” Stange said. “Yeah, on paper they (Foothills) would be favoured.”
Falcons running back/defensive back Brett Williams stressed he doesn’t hate HTA, he just hates losing to HTA, something he has had to endure the past two years.
“Usually it’s packed at HTA and at our school the kids are talking about the game,” Williams said. “I was out one year with a concussion and I did my job cheering our guys on. I am not losing to them this year.”
Falcons lineman Ryan Cole said he tries not to get caught up in the hype of the game.
“For me its just another game,” Cole said. “I go out there and do my job. A lot of those guys (the Knights) we have played with and against before and I’ve learned to respect and like them. It’s kind of weird.”
Knights feature back Ryder Stone has played with Armsworthy with the U-18 Team Alberta and Cole at the Alberta Summer Games. He said he would love to be able to give his pals a few more digs after Friday’s game.
“It’s all in good nature, it’s not ill-hearted, but when we see them, we’re not afraid to let them know we beat them,” Stone said with a smile. “It’s bragging rights.”
He said he looks forward to meeting the rivals from the south every year.
“I have been keeping score since day one,” Stone said with a smile. “It might be friendly off the field but once you get on, there is definite pride in the game.”
He said with the Knights losing to Rundle College and the Falcons 3-1 this season, the Comp is favoured.
“The Comp had an exceptionally good game against Ainlay —Taylor Armsworthy played awesome,” Stone said. “Props toto them for beating the provincial champs from last year… I tend to agree that right now, they would be favoured.” Kick off for the game is at 7 p.m. at Holy Trinity Academy in Okotoks.
Following are the results from the HTA Knights-Foothills Falcons since 2004:2004 Falcons 21 Knights 142005 Falcons 52 Knights 02006 Falcons 32 Knights 32007 Knights 26 Falcons 162008 Knights 50 Falcons 202009 Falcons 49 Knights 172010 Knights 10 Falcons 82011 Knights 14 Falcons 102011* Knights 31 Falcons 3*Denotes Big Sky Conference final
