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1999
RAMS RATTLE NORTH STARS IN LEAGUE FINAL
When the teams with the number one and two offences in the league as well the number one and two defenses play in the City championship game, you are expecting a classic.
Compound that with the fact that both teams finished first in their divisions by a mile and were both from the same community with an intense rivalry- look out!! Oops- you blinked.
Unfortunately, the City fianl between the Sherwood Park Rams and their cross town rivals didn't quite live up to the advance billing.
The first half was strong with the Rams only taking a slight 7-0 lead into the locker room thanks to a Brenden Riopel TD on an interception return. The Rams copntrolled the play adding addtional majors by Lee Fehr and Trevor Topilko in the second half as the ycruised to a 21 - 0 victory.
But the usually offensively omnipotent NorthStars couldn't get anything going in the second half.
"We picked a bad day to have a bad day" said NorthStars head coach Blake Dermott.
The game could have spun out of control had it not been for some fine defensive play by the NorthStars early to at least keep them close for an expected second half charge."We were lucky. They only scored one point on our defence in the first half" said Dermott. "To be down 7 - 0 after the first half we were incridbly lucky. That's why they were the best defense in the league this year. The Rams, except for the opening kick off never had to bring the ball over the half. They had it inside the half the whole game. We didn't get a first down until five minutes into the fourth quarter. Our offence really struggled."
Nothing can be taken away from the Rams who really stepped up their play and clearly earned the victory. It was retribution for their only loss of the season which came to the Northstars during the first week of play.
"I feel great" screamed defensive lineman Moose Allers, while being batted around by jubilant teammates. "The guys played an awesome physical game. If it wasn't for that first loss in the beginning of the season, we probably wouldn't have got here. It was a great game, lots of big hits and we wanted it from the beginning."
From there, it was a chorus of "All the way!" chants from the team and the 500 parents and fans of both treams in the stands.
It was the second straight year the Rams have defeated the NorthStars in the league final and the third straight year that the Rams have won the City championships.
Rams defensive coordinator was just happy that a Park team would be going to the Alberta finals. "Hey, Sherwood Park won!" he said. "The high school coaches around here have to be drooling about some of the kids who will be coming available soon. It's nice to see that the last two years it was Sherwood Park, not really the Rams or the NorthStars but Sherwood Park winning."
Rams head coach Jim Skitsko had a proud grin on his face as he watched his team in the postgame celebrations. But the enthusiasm after the final whistle was matched well before the opening kickoff.
"It's not what's in the locker room after the game that wins games- it's what's in there before the game that counts. The kids were focused and they played extremely well. I have nothing but respect for Coach Dermott and his team too."
The Rams now receive a bye directly into the Provincial finals where they will meet up with the perennail powerhouse Raymond. "We are playing an instituion in Raymond. But they strap on their helmets one head at a time and they don't have Superman tattoed on their chests. We're going to give them a good battle!"
RAMS WIN PROVINCIALS OVER RAYMOND
To the victors go the spoils. The Sherwood Park Rams recaptured the Bantam Provincial championship this year with a 20 - 18 victory over Raymond. The 1998 season was not as sweet with Taber knocking the Rams off. But this year the trophy came back to Sherwood Park and the Rans will have another reason to put up another championship banner on the wall of their dressing room.
"Relief, jubilation, tears, joy, smiles" said Head Coach Jim Skitsko describing the mood of the team after the game. "I would say the number one emotion we felt at the end of the game was relief. It is a long season when you are keyed to win a championship."
In the end, it was the great season which got the Rams into the playoffs. There were two playoff games that the team had to win to get to the provincials final.
"Championshiops don't get won on the championship day. The team proves they are champions on that day. It was a combination of several different games and moments throughout the year," he said.
It was apparent why the Rams were so successful all year.The offense and defense have played well all year but the Rams have also been able to find a way to win in each individual contest. This time they did it with their kicking game. J.R. Harrop kicked seven points for the Rams with the help of center Eric Ness and holder Matt Billings.
"The seven pooints ended up being the difference in the contest" said Skitsko. Harrop also scored a major on a one yard run while Lee Fehr scored on a 10 yard sweep.
The score was a little deceptive as the Rams had control of the game right from the first whistle. Raymond had to resort to trickery with desperation plays in hopes of getting back in the ball game.
They tried everything, including giving their linemen the ball on a hidden handoff, but in the end it wasn't enough.
The undefeated Raymond team, which only gave up 13 points as a high in a game this year, gave up too many on this occassion and the Rams were champions once again.
"Our defense can be proud that they are the best defense in Alberta," said Skitsko. "They gave up hardly anything to a strong Raymond team." And Skitsko believes his potent offense was also the best in Alberta as well. They were certainly the best offense in this game.
The Rams got inside their opposition's 20 yard line on six different occassions. They put points on the board on five of those times.
In the end it was the Rams' opverall strength, from offense to defense to special teams to coaching, intensity to depth, which made the Rams the best in Alberta again this year.
"There wasn't much to say to this team at the beginning of the game," said Skitsko. "I told them- 'You want to feel it, sense it, grab it and go get it!'. That was it."
And for now, coaches, players, parents and fans will relish the victory but will soon have to prepare to do it all over next year. Skitsko sais he has a strong nucleus of players making a return so the team will be a contender again next year. All the Rmas are going to enjoy their provincial championship.
"You play to be champions every year" he said. "You have to enjoy it, just bask in it, because you don't lknow if it will happen again. You can never take a championship for granted!"