West Edmonton high school football team in city finals

By Tyler Loutan

EDMONTON — The Jasper Place Rebels senior football team will be playing for the City Championships for the second year in a row.

“That had to be the craziest high school football gave I’ve ever been a part of,” Rebels head coach Ryan David said of the playoff game against that sent the Rebels to the finals.

The Rebels defeated the Parkland Panthers 39-29 in an amazing semi-final game. The Rebels scored first and went on to score 27 points in the first half.

The 27-point lead held up until the third quarter when the Panthers closed the gap to come within six points of the Rebels.

“When that happened, our sideline was as silent as Parkland’s was in the first half, you could hear a pin drop,” said Jordon Baron, halfback for the Rebels. “But coach always said that ‘big time players make big time plays in big time games,’ and that’s what happened.”

An interception and touchdown from the Rebels late in the fourth quarter sealed their place in the finals against Ainlay.

“We were shouting out ‘gas pedal’ all game,” said Bradly Friesen, linebacker for the Rebels. “We weren’t going to let them get the momentum, and our team stepped up to win the game.”

This was the second straight year the Rebels have faced Parkland in the semi-finals. The Rebels came back from a 14-0 deficit to win last year’s playoff game.

“Parkland is a very talented team and probably one of the best in the province,” coach David said. “Our team did a great job and played strong to win tough game.”

Parkland beat the Rebels 32-0 in Week 1 of the season. The Rebels cite various issues such as injuries, illness and suspensions that occurred during the early part of the season.

“We’ve learned and improved a lot as a team this season,” David said. “Credit goes to our coaches, players, staff and team as a whole for making the adjustments needed in being a better team.”

The Rebels will play the Harry Ainlay Titans for the City Championship in a rematch from last year. The Rebels are confident in putting in a strong effort that’ll help bring a different result this season.

“We’re expecting a team that executes well when we play Ainlay,” Baron said. “They aren’t dumb and we know they won’t take us lightly just because they beat us earlier this year.”

The Titans defeated the Rebels 59-7 in the Rebels’ final game of the regular season. The Rebels were dominated that game, but had a much-needed week off for Week 5 of the regular season as the remaining four teams in the league played their fourth and final games of the regular season.

“That week off before the playoffs was huge for us,” David said. “We don’t have a big roster and we have a lot of two-way players who were a bit worn out, so it was good to break and rest up.”

The Rebels face the Titans for the city championship at Clarke Stadium at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 3.

“It’s going to be an incredible game,” Friesen said. “We have the potential, the skill, the players, and we know we can do it.”