The Under-18 Alberta football team had a tough go at the 2016 Football Canada Cup as they finished out of the medal positions in fourth place.
Cochrane High School Cobras quarterback Tae Gordon and Springbank High School Phoenix linebacker Daniel Tietz were part of the Albertan contingent that stormed the championship held in Winnipeg July 9 to 15, and both players, in particular Gordon played big roles.
Alberta started off their account when they smashed Nova Scotia 32-6 in their opening game of the tournament.
Gordon was in fine form as he had two touchdowns, completing five of 13 passes (picking up 122 yards in passing), and rushing for 66 yards.
In game 2 against Quebec, the reigning champions (and this year’s repeat winners), Alberta faced a tougher test as they fell in a hard-fought 24-10 defeat where the eastern team strutted their stuff and the result was never in doubt.
Quebec picked up 354 yards on the offensive side of things with 24 first downs, nullifying Gordon, who had a tough time, completing only two of 11 passes and racking up one interception.
Finishing the preliminary stages in fourth-place, meant Alberta faced Ontario – one of the top teams in the country – in their third game on July 15 at Investors Group Field.
Despite a tight first half, Ontario were on top at halftime with a 17-7 lead. They kicked things into overdrive in the second half as dominated to win 38-14, taking the bronze medal.
Gordon again played a big part in Alberta’s offence, throwing two touchdown passes, going 9 for 18 with a total of 66 yards.
