The Sturgeon Spirits high-school football team is looking to exact some revenge this week.
After going a perfect 7-0 in the regular season, the Spirits will be facing the Lillian Osbourne Legends in the Gilfillan division semi-finals on Thursday (Oct. 27).
This will be an emotional game for the Spirits, as the Legends were the team that defeated them in the finals last season.
This year's Spirits team features an astounding 26 grade 12 players.
Sturgeon head coach, Chad Hill, hopes his veteran-heavy team can use last season's disappointment as motivation for the rematch.
"A lot of those boys know that they came close last year," said Hill. "That left a bad taste in the mouths of those players and coaches."
"The fact that we play the defending champs in the playoffs, the team that kicked our butts last year, is really exciting for our boys. They are pumped up to face Lillian Osbourne one more time."
Though the team had a perfect regular season, there have been a few bumps along the way. In a previous 41-10 victory against the Legends this season, the Spirits let their emotions run a bit too high.
"[Lillian Osbourne] kicked a field goal and that burst a bubble," said Hill. "We [hadn't let up a point] all season up to that point, but we took 40 yards in penalties on that drive to set them up."
Hill says the team has been working on being more disciplined and taking fewer penalties.
"Play with emotion but don't take the penalties and don't give the refs the opportunity to throw the flags," said Hill. "It's amazing how field position changes and you're able to capitalize on drives when you're not taking penalties."
The Spirits will be relying on some of their leaders for the game including two Fort Saskatchewan players in Erich Fibi and Devlin Freemont.
"[Fibi] has been lights out this year, he leads the team with three interceptions and has been a leader for us on defence," said Hill. [Freemont] is so dynamic...sometimes it looks like there is nothing there at all, but [Freemont] will make a couple of cuts and all of a sudden, he's broken a couple of tackles and he makes a big play."
The game will take place at Larry Olexiuk Field in St. Albert, kick-off is at 5 p.m. on Thursday (Oct. 27) night.