For the eighth year in a row, the Airdrie Bowl trophy will be staying on the west side of the city. In the 15th annual high school football match-up between the George McDougall Mustangs and the Bert Church Chargers, the Mustangs came out on top Oct. 13, with a 35-14 victory over its city rivals from the east. George McDougall’s touchdowns came from senior receiver Rhett Mitschke and sophomore running back Michael Schaan – who scored two each in the second half – and senior fullback Cody Sox. Wide receiver/defensive end Josh Bancroft and slot back Mason Hart picked up TDs for the Chargers. While the final score reflected the Mustangs’ historical dominance of this yearly fixture, both teams’ coaches agreed the competition between the two sides was tighter this year than in previous Airdrie Bowls. “The score was 35-14, but if you watched this game, you know it was a lot closer than that,” said Mustangs head coach Chris Glass. “They’re a much better Bert Church team than we’ve seen in the past. “They have heart, competitive spirit and they really took it to us.” Unlike recent renditions, this year’s Airdrie Bowl had significant implications regarding the teams’ final standings in the Rocky View Sports Association (RVSA) – the Mustangs and the Chargers came into the fixture with matching 3-2 records. The win means George McDougall finishes the regular season in third place, with a 4-2 record. The Mustangs will face the Springbank Phoenix Oct. 19 in its RVSA playoff semi-final. Kick-off is set for 7 p.m. at Shouldice Park in Calgary. The Mustangs will be seeking revenge after losing 10-9 to the Phoenix Oct. 4 in the RVSA’s closest match, score-wise, of the 2018 season. “We have some unfinished business with Springbank,” Glass said. “We’d like to do what we can against them and get a shot at [Cochrane] again.” Bert Church, meanwhile, finishes the regular season in fourth place with a 3-3 record. Considering the Chargers went 1-11 in 2016 and 2017, head coach Josh Joynson said the team’s .500 record this season shows the program is on the upswing. “This team is past the rebuild stage and is in the becoming stage of who we want to be,” he said. “Our identity is being created now and we have shown we’re not just a team to walk over, anymore.” Joynson said mental mistakes led to the Chargers’ defeat. A turning point in the match came when Bert Church running back Dylan Sorsdahl had a touchdown disallowed in the third quarter, due to the Chargers having too many men on the field. Had it counted, that touchdown would have tied the match 14-14. “It kind of got into our heads – we can’t let that happen,” said Bancroft, who was playing in his first Airdrie Bowl. “But we still fought as a family, and that’s what matters. “It was a ‘good’ loss and we all had each other’s backs,” he added. “We can’t be too mad about it.” Bert Church will face the top ranked Cochrane Cobras in its semi-final match, Oct. 20. The Cobras beat the Chargers 57-0 Sept. 15, and is looking to win its fifth consecutive RVSA championship this season. Kick-off for that match is set for noon at the Spray Lakes Legacy Field in Cochrane.
