A new football league will likely take the intensity of the rivalry between Okotoks’ two high school football programs to a whole new level.
Over the last several years the rivalry between Holy Trinity Academy and Foothills Composite has grown exponentially as the teams have met in the provincial playoffs and both programs have had success in their respective leagues.
However, this year the Holy Trinity Academy (HTA) Knights and Foothills Falcons will be the anchor tenants of a new Big Rock Football League meaning not only will they meet annually for Okotoks bragging rights, but they will also meet in league play and likely provincial playoffs as well.
Falcon slotback Taylor Brooks said the team has been looking forward to Friday’s game ever since the Knights edged the Falcons by two points at HTA last year.
“We are pretty pumped,” said Brooks as a smile emerged on his face. “We want to get HTA back for last year. The stakes are higher and this is more than just a game.”
Knight linebacker Jadon Schneider could not agree more.
“I don’t think the intensity of this game could get any higher,” said Schneider. “We have a lot of confidence and we just need to play well.”
What has made the rivalry so entertaining is although they have attended different schools for the most part the players on both teams have grown up together and even played together in Peewee and Bantam.
As a result, the game is certainly intense on the field, but it is not an unhealthy rivalry.
“Whenever we play them we are not friends on the field, but we are friends off the field,” said Brooks. “There are no cheap shots and it is never bitter, it is just intense.”
Falcon Brendon Bird added, “It is a friendly rivalry, but it is so intense. They have the bragging rights and it is not just the players, it is even other people in the school bragging.”
The rivalry has taken on a life of its own and it has been embraced in the classrooms of both schools. No longer is this a game between two football teams, but rather two student bodies.
“This is one of those special games that becomes the talk of the town,” said Knights head coach Matt Hassett. “There is a lot of excitement about this game as it is gotten bigger. There is a real buzz in the school and everyone wants to be a part of it.”
Brooks said it has been a long year listening to the barbs from the students at HTA about their victory last season.
Now he is even hearing it from his classmates who are imploring the Falcons football team not to lose to the Knights again and to avenge last year’s loss.
However, for the Knights nothing would be better than to open the regular season with a win over their “hated” rival.
Knight Ryder Stone said more than the win, bragging rights are on the line.
“The whole school is talking about this game,” he said. “Whoever wins will have bragging rights all year. This is the biggest game of the season. It is like you can lose any game during the season, but don’t lose this one.”
After only a few exhibition games neither team has likely unveiled their complete playbooks and they could well have been keeping things close to the vest in preparation for Friday’s showdown.
However, it looks as though the grudge match will come down to the Falcons’ running game anchored by Brooks, Devan Karl and rookie Cody Prentice against the Knights’ veteran defence led by veterans Brandon Bellman, Peter Hillman and Schneider.
Last week the Knights struggled running the ball and relied on quarterback Ryan Hassler finding Stone and wideout William Barrett. It will be up to the Falcons’ young defence to slow the Knights’ charge.
“Foothills has a high powered offence and we have to match their intensity,” said Schneider. “Our veterans will be used to this game, but we have to come out ready to play.”
As for the Falcons, Bird said, “We have to go 100 per cent, have a short memory and do our job. Twelve little jobs done well lead to one big play.”
Bragging rights are on line on Friday as the Falcons, ranked eighth in the provincial Tier II standings, host the Knights, ranked sixth, at 7 p.m. at Foothills Composite High School.
