In this year’s final regular-season match-up between Airdrie teams, the Bert Church Chargers outclassed the W.H. Croxford Cavaliers 39-6 Sept. 25 in front of more than 150 fans at Ed Eggerer Athletic Park.
The result, Bert Church’s fourth win in a row in Rocky View Sports Association (RVSA), temporarily vaulted the team into the division’s top spot. The team is currently ranked eighth in the province for Tier 2 schools by Football Alberta.
“We all love the feeling of going [unbeaten] and we don’t plan on slowing down,” said senior wide receiver Blaise Newberry. “This is the best our team has been in years, so we’re hoping to take it home.”
It’s 6-6 early in the second quarter between @WHCroxford and the @BCHSChargers in the final regular-season match-up btwn Airdrie football teams this year. @FootballAlberta pic.twitter.com/L1ZASpvJmX
— Scott Strasser (@scottstrasser19) September 26, 2019
While the final score favoured the Chargers, it was Croxford that started the game strong. Grade-11 running back Keshawn Glasgow-Davies took a hand-off deep in Cavaliers territory from quarterback Blake Kleisinger, before taking off down the field for a thrilling touchdown.
The 80-yard major marked yet another touchdown for Glasgow-Davies, who has become a focal point of the Cavaliers’ offence this season.
“I love that responsibility – it’s a great role,” said the 16-year-old, who is also a 100-metre sprinter during the school's track-and-field season. “I do what I have to do to get touchdowns.”
It was just the second touchdown Bert Church has conceded this season.
Despite the early setback, the Chargers clawed its way back into the game with a pair of field goals to ensure the first quarter ended 6-6.
For the remaining three quarters, it was all Bert Church. Newberry caught his ninth touchdown pass of 2019 from Grade-11 quarterback Tristan Remus-Arevalo, before Tyler Ruck punched in a close-range TD on a second-and-goal to extend the Chargers’ lead to 14 points.
“Me and [Remus-Arevalo], we go way back, so we have that chemistry,” Newberry said. “I think that helps a lot for our team. On defence, we have Dylan [Sorsdahl] and [Ruck], and those guys are absolute beasts.”
End of the first half and it’s 26-6. No score on this catch from Newberry, but Tyler Ruck punched in the ball on the ensuing snap. pic.twitter.com/Bz06gmSoRp
— Scott Strasser (@scottstrasser19) September 26, 2019
In the final minute of the half, Grade-11 slotback Lucas Alway was wide open for yet another end-zone pass from Remus-Arevalo to mark the Chargers’ third touchdown of the second quarter, extending Bert Church’s lead to 26-6.
“We’re definitely one of those teams that you can’t let up on, because we’ll just come right back,” Newberry said.
“We have a good overall strength right now – we can throw it, we can run it. For the time being, I think we have the best running game in the league, and I don’t think that’s going to change.”
The team’s offence continued its strong play into the second half, kicking off the third quarter with a 50-plus yard drive that ate up more than five minutes.
The only points in the quarter came from Chargers kicker Owen Cory, who made it 30-6 with a 25-yard field goal.
Remus-Arevalo capped off another fine performance in the pocket with a touchdown pass to Noah Heming four minutes into the fourth quarter.
It’s now 37-6 for @BCHSChargers in the final 8 minutes. Nice bit of play in the pocket from QB Tristan Remus-Arevalo here - he holds off a few tackles before finding Noah Heming in the end zone. pic.twitter.com/nAdXGzmCPV
— Scott Strasser (@scottstrasser19) September 27, 2019
The only other points came when the Cavaliers defence took a safety in the final six minutes of the game.
While Bert Church’s season has been memorable, the team still has a lot to do – the Chargers’ final two regular-season games will be against the Springbank Phoenix and the Cochrane Cobras, which are the RVSA’s other top teams this year.
Newberry said he’s excited to see what the Chargers can do against those opponents, Oct. 4 and Oct. 11.
“We just need to keep executing, and get better every practice,” he said. “We’ll bring our all into those games, and that’s what we need to do to win.”
W.H. Croxford (1-3), meanwhile, will have a more favourable end to its regular-season schedule with games against the winless Bow Valley Bobcats Oct. 5 and the Chestermere Lakers Oct. 10.
“We’ll bounce back and do better next game,” Glasgow-Davies said.
If the Cavaliers wins both of its final games, it could finish in fourth, qualifying for the RVSA “A” playoffs for the first time in the team’s five-year history.
