Team Alberta started off on the right foot at the Football Canada Cup tournament in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., on July 13.
Riding the arm of Cochrane Midget Lions quarterback Des Catellier, Alberta defeated Team Manitoba 39-8 at the national tournament for elite, under-18-year-old (U18) high school football players.
Catellier threw for three touchdowns and booted two field goals to power Alberta to the win. Slated to play the first half, an early injury to second-half QB Alexander Noel of Grande Prairie left Catellier in the driver’s seat for the entire contest. He was 17-of-27 for 252 yards, three TDs and a pick.
“The offensive line played really well, I had a lot of good protection,” said the Bearspaw resident who plays high-school ball for Calgary powerhouse St. Francis. “The play-calling was good. I like our playbook. It was good.”
Alberta vaulted to a 19-0 lead, 14 points coming on a 37-yard TD strike to Foothills Comp’s (Okotoks) Landon Rose and a 66-yard scoring connection with Red Deer’s Ben Pasiuk.
“He (Des) stays calm and controlled and threw the ball extremely well. He reads well and makes some great plays that way,” said Alberta head coach Bryan Brandford. “He missed a few but, again, as an opening-game performance, we’re really happy. Not only is he an important part of our offence but in the kicking game, he’s got an unbelievable leg. We’re fortunate to have Des.”
Joining Catellier on Team Alberta are high school all-stars Justin Sambu (defensive end, Cochrane High) and Dan Teitz (linebacker, Springbank High). Like Catellier, both play community club ball for Cochrane Midget Lions.
“We were just looking to execute,” Sambu said of Alberta holding Manitoba to eight points. “The coaches really thrive when the defence plays up-tempo. We’re looking to execute and be great football players.
“It was a lot harder than what I’m used to. They (Manitoba) were pretty good.”
Sambu chased down two tackles from his defensive-end spot and knocked down a Manitoba field-goal attempt.
With Alberta racking up an early lead, Manitoba was forced to the air on offence. Teitz, playing outside linebacker, didn’t get to put his helmet on nearly as many running backs as he’d have liked to.
“They didn’t get too much rushing on us,” Teitz recounted of Alberta’s four linemen, three linebacker defensive set that allowed just 48 yards rushing. “We were expecting a lot more runs from Manitoba. But they threw the ball a lot more. Our DB’s played a very good game. They did a lot of the work.
“I didn’t get as many tackles as I would have liked.”
Catellier was named Alberta’s offensive player of the game. The tournament continues through to July 19 in Quebec.
