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Bengals win right to host provincial championships

For the first time in its 34-year history of St Paul football, the town will host an Alberta football provincial title game Saturday at St. Paul Regional high school at 1 p.m.
The Bengals travelled to Grande Prairie over the past weekend, winning the Northern Alberta Football Tier III championships decisively on its way to hosting the provincial
The Bengals travelled to Grande Prairie over the past weekend, winning the Northern Alberta Football Tier III championships decisively on its way to hosting the provincial finals in St. Paul this week.

For the first time in its 34-year history of St Paul football, the town will host an Alberta football provincial title game Saturday at St. Paul Regional high school at 1 p.m.

The bantam Bengals went 4-1 only losing once in the regular season and then by only five points. St. Paul avenged their only loss in Bonnyville on the Nov. 4 with a 13 – 6 victory over the Bandits to take home the Wheatland Football League Bantam Championship. On Remembrance Day, the Bengals travelled to Grand Prairie and thrashed the Sexsmith Shamrocks 55 – 12 to earn the right to host the Alberta Football tier III Bantam Championship Game.

The location of the game was in some doubt as Football Alberta sent a laundry list of requirements for the host team.

“I didn't know if we had the manpower (and mom-power) to pull it off. But there was such an overwhelming show of support among parents and volunteers that it cemented the game right here in St Paul,” said Bengals’ head coach Todd Tanasichuk.

About 50 people attended an organizational meeting Sunday morning in the Regional High School cafeteria. Trevor Kotowich and Roger Girard stepped up as co-chairs of the hosting committee with Lori-Anne Peters handling the post-game meal.

“I just want to thank everyone for stepping up to ensure we put on a first class event this Saturday. We’ll leave the coaching to the coaches and the parents and volunteers will ensure everything is taken care of,” said Kotowich.

The Bengals (7-1) will face the Lacombe Raiders (6-1-1), which also won its Remembrance Day game over the Lethbridge Jr Coyotes 48-21.

“We don't know too much about them yet. It will be St. Paul Football’s second ever trip to a provincial final in our 34 years and the first time ever we get to host,” said Tanasichuk.

The last time the Bengals were in a provincial final was 2010 when they fell to the Calgary Colts.

“We're still searching for our first provincial title. The high school Lions have played in two provincial semi-finals but never a final. It’ll be cold, but it gives our town and county a great opportunity to come out and hopefully witness a ‘feel-good’ moment at a time when we seem to need one. We are hoping for a big, boisterous crowd, bundled in snow suits, toques and mitts . . . (the) Canadian way!”

For the Bengals to beat Lacombe, they will have to play the same smash-mouth football they brought against Sexsmith where they dominated on all sides of the ball.

“We need to keep taking advantage of our opportunities to put up points, protecting the football from turnovers, being disciplined on the penalty front and continuing our dominant defensive performance that we’ve had all season long, which is really our calling card as a team,” said Tanasichuk.

The forecast is for snow on Monday and Wednesday with a game time temperature of -15 on Saturday.

“I have been moving the snow for St. Paul Football since my son started in Bengals back in 2004. Getting the field ready will be no problem,” said Girard.

Despite the weather, hopes are high for a large turnout. There will be hot chocolate, coffee and possibly a concession. The cafeteria at Regional is also being opened to spectators for warming and restroom facilities.

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