North beats South in Alberta high school football Senior Bowl showcase

Sunday was the final time several Alberta students got to wear their high school football helmets.

The Senior Bowl, which features the top Grade 12 high school football players in Alberta, was played at the Encana Dome at Shouldice Park in Calgary.

For Football Alberta technical director Taylor Stiles, it was a celebration and a showcase of provincial football talent all rolled into one event.

It started with 280 players attending a selection camp tryout in December, Stiles said, before being whittled down to a North (Red Deer north to Fort MacMurray and Peace River), and South (Every community south of Innisfail) roster of 42 players apiece.

“These players just finished their high school season in November,” Stiles said. “This is an opportunity to showcase our top athletes for scouts, universities, junior teams and obviously celebrate them as high school football players.

“It’s a huge moment for them and their schools,” he added. “Some of these players may never play another tackle football game in their life.

“A lot of these kids will go play junior and university but this is their last chance to go represent their high school, their community and their family.”

In the game, the North dominated the South, cruising to a 31-10 victory.

The North built a 21-0 lead on touchdown passes from Beaumont’s Wesley Neitz, who tossed a pair to Bellerose (St. Albert) receiver Marcus Crandell and another to Spruce Grove’s Dawson Hunter.

The South cut the lead to 21-10, getting a 34-yard field goal from Holy Trinity Academy (Okotoks) placekicker Ryan Chirzynski and a touchdown from Notre Dame’s (Calgary) Aaron Oboh, but that was as close as they would get.

Crandell and Crescent Heights' (Calgary) Marcus Williams were named the game's offensive most-valuable-players, while Spruce Grove’s Brody Bursey and W.H. Croxford’s (Airdrie) Joseph Abou Mechrek took home defensive MVP awards.

James Carr fromSt. Albert’s Paul Kane was named the Lanny Beleski Memorial Lineman of the Game.

With files from CTV's Tyler Barrow