The Holy Trinity Academy Knights didn’t blow their chances at defending their league title despite facing stiff winds and a stiffer opposition.
The Knights won their second consecutive Big Rock Conference championship by downing the Foothills Falcons 33-19 Friday at a gusty HTA field.
“Given the elements tonight I thought we played really well, fortunately, both our quarterbacks have strong arms,” Knights head coach Matt Hassett said. “We did what we came do to do, and Foothills came to play — give them credit.”
The Falcons threw caution to the wind by starting the game with an onside kick, but it failed to go the necessary 10 yards and the Knights had great field advantage on the opening drive.
They took advantage when three plays later QB Ben Leggett hit receiver Ewan Fuhr for a 23-yard TD pass.
“I ran a slant in between the defenders and Ben just dropped it right in,” Fuhr said. “Ben played fantastic in the wind.”
The Falcons responded with QB Tyson Camel hitting a wide open Eton Nelson in the numbers for a 60 yard-touchdown to make it 7-7 with five minutes left in the opening quarter.
HTA’s tenacious defence then gave the Knights the lead for good.
With Foothills pinned deep in their territory, HTA linebacker Michael Peloso forced a Falcon fumble on the five-yard and was able to jump on the pigskin in the end zone on the final play of the first quarter to make it 14-7.
The Knights would add a 24-yard field goal by Gabriel Marquardt to take a 17-7 lead at halftime.
A mistake early in the second half by the young Falcons put them in a deep hole against the Knights.
Foothills punter Josh Groome, who had a strong game, had trouble with an errant snap and he was tackled at the Foothills one-yard line.
The next play, Leggett pushed in for a quarterback sneak to give HTA a 24-7 bulge.
But apparently the Falcons didn’t get the memo this one was over.
Foothills would cut the lead to 24-13 when runningback Sam Simard took advantage of his blocking and cut outside for 60-yard touchdown with five minutes left in the third quarter.
“I went wide and got outside and there was nothing there between me and the end zone,” Simard said. “I had some great blocking.”
Foothills would give up a safety midway through the fourth quarter for a 26-13 HTA lead.
The Knights would then take advantage of defensive back Ethan Balance’s first pick of his high school career. The Grade 11 Balance picked off the rushed Camel’s pass at around the Falcons’ 30-yard line.
Leggett then hit a streaking Jack Gutek with a pinpoint pass, who was hauled down at the one.
The QB punched it over to make it 33-13.
“Throughout the week, we knew we were going to have to play in the wind,” Leggett said. “We had a few days like that at practice and tonight our line was really good.”
However, the Knights got a wake up call. On the final play of the game, an alert Simard caught HTA napping and went in for a 20-yard TD run to make the final 33-19.
Falcons coach Nathan St. Dennis said his team could have been right there if not for a few mistakes.
“We shot ourselves in the foot a few times and we know that,” said St. Dennis. “We are a young team and we had a lot of guys who really put out effort wise.
“HTA is a good football team and our kids responded well against their athletes.”
Leggett said the Falcons competed the whole game.
“The Comp is a good team,” Leggett said. "It was just hard-nosed football.”
The Knights will now begin the Tier II playoffs when they take on the Bert Church Chargers on Friday, Nov. 1 at Holy Trinity Academy at 7 p.m.
HTA, which made it to the Tier II final last year, is the no. 1 ranked team in the province at that level.
The Falcons are in the Tier I playoffs and will travel to Edmonton next Saturday to take on the Fort McMurray Saints.
