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2002
Rams hand out $5,400 in bursaries to former alumni
It must be hard to say “no” to Jim Skitsko.
How else to explain the packed house at Legends Golf Course last Thursday afternoon for the Sherwood Park Rams’ annual golf tournament.
The event, now in its fourth year, is meant to raise bursary money for former Rams’ alumni attending post secondary schools, and also to disperse said funds.
Patrick Smith, Rob Olexson, Matt Lemay, Jason Ewaskiw, Scott Schriver, David Chmelyk, Steve Golko (all from the 1998 Rams’ squad), Tim McFadyen and Dan Mantei (both from the 1997 team) were each awarded $600 bursaries at the tournament.
Among the repeat golfers was former Edmonton Eskimos special teams and running backs coach of three years, Brian Dickinson.
Sporting an eye-catching Eskimos ring, Dickinson jested with former Eskimos’ quarterback Tom Wilkinson.
“I played football, coached football on and off for 30 years,” said Dickinson. “We support something like this so new guys can continue to play for the Rams for many years. Plus, Jimmy Skitsko phoned me for three years to come and play.”
Another notable football presence was Mike McLean, head coach of the Edmonton Huskies, himself a former Eskimo (linebacker, 1987) and a Strathcona County resident of 15 years.
An executive board member couldn’t make the trip to Legends, so McLean — a teacher at Archbishop O’Leary — was drafted into action.
“Jim does an awesome job in the community,” said McLean. “Because he has success, a lot of kids want to play for him. He is a stand-up guy. There are not a lot of people in the football community you can trust, but Jim is. He is good people.”
In addition, several players from Strathcona County/Sherwood Park end up playing McLean’s Huskies, the University of Alberta Golden Bears or the Edmonton Wildcats.
“Sherwood Park is the hotbed of football, not only in Alberta, but in Canada,” said McLean. “That is why the high school programs are so successful out here. At O’Leary, we are teaching them how to put on equipment.
“Because of Jimmy, and what he is doing, they do such a good job of teaching fundamentals. There is so much respect for the job Jimmy does.
“I am real proud of being involved with this organization. The kids we’ve been getting are phenomenal.”
• Randy Schriver, father of former Ram’s lineman Scott Schriver, was a watcher at hole #8. Up for grabs was a very pricey 2003 Chrysler Sebring.
According to Schriver, one golfer hit the ball to within six inches from the pin, just missing out on a hole-in-one
“And it rolled past too, it wasn’t short,” said Schriver.
• Mike Purpura of Gibbons had one chance to earn both himself and the Rams club a cool $5,000 with one putt — the final shot of the day at Legends.
After qualifying for the final by nailing a 10-foot-putt earlier in the day, his name was drawn for to tee off for $10,000 shot. Purpura, 57, grabbed his off-the-rack Tour Star putter (bought by his kids four or five years ago as a Christmas present) and let rip. The shot, although straight as a tape measure, fell short by three feet.
“I wish I’d hit it just a little bit harder,” said Purpura following the shot.
“Don’t tell my wife I missed.”
BANTAM RAMS ESTABLISH DOMINANCE ONCE AGAIN
The Sherwood Park bantam Wolverines football team improved greatly over the past year, even managing to draw the high scoring Edmonton Chargers 0-0, but their improvement wasn't enough to fend off the defending North Division champion Sherwood Park Rams, who for the second consecutive year effectively shut down their cross-town opponents.
The Rams amassed 350 yards in offense and 13 first downs on a season-high 60 offensive plays as they defeated the Wolverines 40-0.
Rams' rookies Zack Smith (two touchdowns) and Landon Lonsberry and veteran David Erhler accounted for the majors, while Nate Curtis's consecutive streak of converts was halted at 30 with the ball leaning left of the goalposts. Curtis quickly got back on track, kicking another convert on the following possession.
"I was pleased to see that they didn't view this game as a nothing game as they stated last week," said Rams' defensive backs coach Greg Johnson. "It was evident by the fact that most of their students went both ways all four quarters.
"They are a much improved team from last year and needed (to) showcase their talent against a top team."
Johnson added he was "somewhat surprised" at the result, since both teams had key players out with injuries.
"On paper, our two teams match up well," added Johnson. "We both have a core of experienced players and some promising rookies."
On the field, the Rams looked bigger and sharper than the second-year Wolverines, who dropped four fumbles recovered by the Rams.
According to Rams' offensive coordinator Perry Meriot, once the Rams had a comfortable lead with an established running and passing game, they decided to concentrate on new plays and blocking schemes in preparation of the playoffs.
"We just had a terrible first half," said Wolverines president Craig Hall. "Running backs were going to the wrong holes, guys were running the wrong patterns. Defensively, we zome way too often. The Rams are just too good for that."
"I was very pleased with how well the defense played today, despite having two starters (Jeff Toonen and Shaun Wall) sidelined by injury," said Rams' defensive coordinator Mark Feledichuk. "I felt everyone played solid as a unit. We are going to have to continue that trend in order to make it through the playoffs.
"We have three of the top four teams in our (Jackie Parker) division, so it will take a total team effort if we want to move on."
The Rams play their first playoff game tomorrow (Saturday) at Coronation Park, Game time is 3 pm.
"I am kind of disappointed in how we played," said Wolverines' coach Wally Bawol after the loss. "We are like a yo-yo. We don't know which team will show up."
As it is, the Wolverines still claim second place, and will play the St. Albert Fury this Sunday, Oct 20th at Johnny Bright Park. Game time is 1 pm.
"The last time we played them (third game of the season), we had a pretty decent game," recalled Bawol. "I think they're a pretty decent team, a little unorthodox on their approach. They got up on us by 15 points, then we came back and scored 39 straight on them in the seocond half.
"We don't want to go into the half down 15 points this time."
RAMS OVER RIVALS IN "NOTHING" GAME
Last week Wally Bawol described the upcoming Bantam match between his Sherwood Park Wolverines and the Sherwood Park Rams as a "nothing" game.
Both teams had already secured spots in the playoffs and he was more concerned about getting out of the game without injuries than anything else.
But if there was a game on the schedule which should have meant something to the players on the Wolverines, this was it.
Last year the Rams totally humiliated the expansion Wolverines, setting a point record in the process, taking the game 82-0. With the Wolverines vastly improved this campaign you'd think they would be out for a little payback and a chance to prove to themselves and the Rams that thay are for real.
Mission sort of accomplished. They were able to hold the beating to 40-0 this time around. But that's kind of like getting really excited about a D student moving into C-minus territory.
Once again the Rams took control of the game early, utilizing TD scores from David Ehrler, Zack Smith and Landon Lonsberry to take a 32-0 lead at the half. The second quarter slowed down to a near crawl, with only Troy Harrison's 40 yard interception return TD accounting for any excitement as the Rams cruised to victory.
"We didn't want to leave any doubt who the best team in Sherwood Park is," said Ramd head coach Jim Skitsko. "We were very focused this week. We did what we had to do in the first half to take control of the game and in the second half we had a little more fun. They have an improved team and some great athletes. I'm happy for their kids that didn't have to take it on the chin this time like they did last year."
"I was expecting a little more offence from our boys, but overall it was a strong effort," said Bawol. "Our main goal was just to come out of this game healthy for the playoffs. We accomplished that. That game had some really good intensity. This whole year has to be considered a success. We're obviously getting better and better."
Bawol may have felt the game meant nothing but Rams coach Skitsko says all you had to do was ask the players and they would have told you differently.
"Whoever says this game doesn't mean much isn't listening to the kids," he said. "The kids will tell you this game meant a lot."
"It was a big win," said Ram QB Ehrler. "The game meant a lot to our players. We were told not to say anything about it to their players at school. Just to leave it all on the field and that's what we did."
"We were taking it really seriously," said Wolverine Jason McDonald. "Last year the Rams kicked the crap out of us. We wanted to put up a better fight and I think we did."
Both teams enter the playoffs this weekend with the Rams taking on Fort McMurray and the Wolverines up against the St. Albert Fury.
RAMS FIND STARS NO CHALLENGE
It's called the Challenge Cup but the players on the Sherwood Park Rams have to be wondering why after this season's annual match against the rival Sherwood Park Northstars. After all, it certainly wasn't much of a challenge to come away with the trophy this year.
Friday's big Bantam football grudge match between the cross-town rivals at SAP was unusually one-sided this time around as the Rams took control early and wouldn't allow the Stars a sniff of getting back into the game.
The Rams started the scoring on a seven yard major by Kurtis MacDonald who would get another one shortly after, going in from the 10 to convert a Korey Johnson interception. Raymond Beauregard added a 47-yard punt return TD to give the Rams a 21-0 lead at the half. The Rams continued to dominate in the second half as David Ehrler, Duncan Hankinson and Cam Rehman all found the endzone to give the Rams an easy 41-0 victory.
It was enough to make the Stars truly believe that Friday the 13th is bad luck.
"That was quite a tough loss for us," said Stars quarterback Steven Tripodi. "We never expected anything like this. It doesn't feel very good. We all still have some work left to do."
Northstars head coach Dave Eamer was unable to rally the troops after an early mistake set them back on their heels and the game steamrolled out of their grasp.
"There was one play right at the beginning which knocked us right off kilter," he said. "It was our own screwup and it rocked us back. We just didn't execute our game plan. We got carried away and lost focus. You can't do that against the Rams. They are a hell of a good football team."
On the other side of the ball it was a big confidence booster for the Rams who were stunned 6-2 by the Millwoods Grizzlies the week before for their first loss of the season. Rams head coach Jim Skitsko got exactly what he wanted out of his squad this week as they cruised to their seventh win in the 10 years the event has been held.
"We were very intense and focused," he said. "The offence moved the ball which they have to do and the defence was very strong. After we lost last week we had a bitter taste in our mouths and these kids wanted to get that taste out and move on. And they did."
The game ball belonged to MacDonald who not only scored twice but also recovered a fumbled Stars punt attempt and added an interception.
"That may have been the best game of my life," he said.
"I had a really good game. I'm just glad I was able to do my part. It was a big win for us. It was a really intense game no matter what the score says. We really wanted this one."
There is still a lot of football left to be played this season and both sides were careful not to read too much into this result.
Eamer feels this game was far from a true indication of the talent on his roster and is sure that when the season winds down his Stars will be in the thick of things.
"We have the talent and we have the pontential to be one of the best in the province," he said. "Somebody is going to wake up these boys and when they wake up it's going to be an amazing thing to watch."
The Rams improved to 4-1 on the season while the Northstars fell 2-3.