If the coaches of Okotoks two high school football teams kept their hands any closer to their vests in regards to the upcoming game one would need a crowbar to get their fingers free.
There are no Mitt-Romney-foot-in-the-mouth quotes from either Foothills Falcons coach Greg McLeod or Holy Trinity Academy (HTA) Knights coach Matt Hassett as the two teams prepare for their rivalry game this Friday. Prime Minister Stephen Harper and New Democrat leader Thomas Mulcair can only dream of having as much decorum in Parliament as the head coaches have when discussing each other’s teams.
“Everybody loves the rivalry between Foothills and HTA,” Knights coach Matt Hassett said. “I have seen film of the Comp and they are a great passing team.
“Taylor Armsworthy (Falcons quarterback) has worked really hard all summer and is playing outstanding.”
Hassett has seen film of the Falcons’ 42-21 victory over the defending Tier I provincial champion Harry Ainlay Titans on Sept. 7. It might be causing him to lose more sleep than watching “The Exorcist”.
“In the Ainlay game, Taylor played incredible,” Hassett said.
He said the addition of Hunter Karl as a receiver has made the Falcons’ high-octane offence downright explosive. He said the Falcons’ defence is no slouch either.
However, Hassett said with Foothills Composite and the Knights playing in the same conference for the past two years, the game doesn’t have the same feeling it had in previous years.
“It has changed a bit because now we get a chance to see each other twice a year now in the regular season and the playoffs,” he said.
He agreed as of Sept. 21, the Falcons would be favoured. Foothills has a 3-1 record while the Knights are 2-2. The Falcons are ranked No. 4 in the province among schools with enrolments between 750 and 1,249 students.
The Knights are right behind them at No. 5.
Falcons coach Greg McLeod said he has to make sure his team doesn’t get too wrapped up in the Knights’ game — there will be more games to follow.
“This game we put a lot of weight into it because it will likely set up who will win the conference,” McLeod said. “But it is not the be all to end all. We want to win it, but at the same time I don’t want it to be the pinnacle of our season.
“We have to find a balance of getting our guys ready but not too excited or keyed up. It could mean a big drop off the following week.”
The second-year head coach scoffed at the notion they were the favorites. He said the Knights are still the defending Big Rock Football League champs until someone knocks them off.
“One thing we know is the Knights are always going to be ready for us,” McLeod said.
He said the Knights’ Ryder Stone is one of the top backs in the province. However, he said the Falcons will be careful not to key on Stone too much as they have other effective weapons as well.
He added the Knights’ defence is capable of giving a team fits. The Knights’ defence is led by safety Jordan Rae who played with Stone on the silver-medal winning Team Alberta at the Canada Football Cup in the summer.
Kick-off for the Holy Trinity Knights-Foothills Falcons game is 7 p.m. at Holy Trinity Academy in Okotoks.
