Team Alberta exploded out of the gate at the U18 Football Canada Cup, racking up 51 points in the first half on their way to a dominant 52-7 win over Manitoba in Sunday’s tournament opener.
Alberta’s defence set the tone early, shutting down Manitoba’s opening drive and forcing a safety for the game’s first points. Quarterback Harrison Hyndman followed up with a perfectly executed shovel pass to running back Joel Thorpe for the tournament’s first touchdown.
RELATED STORY:
-
Cochrane football talent heads to nationals with Team Alberta
The Alberta defence continued to wreak havoc, with defensive MVP Cohen Boucher intercepting a Manitoba pass and returning it for a touchdown. On Manitoba’s next possession, a tipped pass led to another interception, this time by Cole MacInnis.
Running back Aaron Oboh rushed for a pair of touchdowns, including a three-yard score, earning him MVP honours on offence. Both Alberta quarterbacks added rushing touchdowns of their own before defensive back Habtamu Liptak capped the first-half onslaught with a pick-six.
A rouge off a missed field goal in the second half rounded out the scoring.
On July 17, Alberta faces Quebec in the semifinals, which beat British Columbia today, 52-14.
It's a rematch between two teams that have often met in the semifinals, including a controversial game last year that saw Alberta unsuccessfully appeal the result. Alberta went on to win bronze, and Quebec, silver.