The Bethlehem Stars will compete in their first ever Sr. Football Game in school history in 1/4 final action on Thursday October 24 versus the top seeded Bears from Aden Bowman.  One shouldn't be deceived by the Star's record during 3A league play.  Bethlehem has had an impressive first season of varsity action and the improvement of the club has been noticeable from day one.  Faced with arguablly the most difficult schedule in 3A action, the Stars are a formidable opponent regardless of the league that gets your attention.   Regardless of the outcome of thier 1/4 final game versus the heavily favored Bears, you know the Stars are shining bright for years to come with football at Bethlehem.

The Stars have been faced with adversity of some kind from the beginning of their first campaign in senior football action.  In only the school's second year of existence, Bethlehem has been playing without any Grade 12 leadership from their own school.  Furthermore, the school honorably took on several ED Feehan student athletes interested in playing football after the Trojan program folded following declining enrollments.  The unselfish nature of the Stars, however, pushed them into a higher category according to SHSAA bylaws and the Stars made the move to the 4A category for their first playoff experience in school history.  Despite the record of 1-5  in 3A play, the learning curve for the Stars has been steep, and gradual.  Facing all the top seeds in the 3A league throughout the season has helped Bethlehem prepare for the Bears, defending City and Provincial Champions.  They might have put together their most solid four quarter effort of the season against the #1 seed in 3A play, the Centennial Chargers in the final night of league play.  Nearly upsetting the Chargers and knocking them out of the #1 seed position, must have given the Stars some confidence and helped the coaching staff see that their ...

The Mount Royal Mustangs have a habit of saving the best for last.   In 2007,  they played their most physical and well executed football late in October, upsetting the much heavier favored Holy Cross Crusaders in the playoffs.  They are hoping for a repeat performance of that kind of playoff success when they battle the top seeded Centennial Chargers in semi final 3A football on Wednesday October 22.  They have a lot of work ahead of them, but the positive memories from 2007 are sure to help whip the Mustanges to a solid effort.

Inconsistency has been a great concern for the Mount Royal team in 2008.  Injuries and inexperience have contributed to the team looking solid one week, and very vulnerable at other times.  Struggling with moving the ball, or converting opportunities in the red zone have plagued the Mustangs throughtout the season on offense.  They enter the playoffs with one of the lowest points for totals in the league, but their production has improved in the playoffs.  Defensively, they have looked like the most physical team in the league at times, but vulnerable to giving up the big play at the worst time.  However, they may have just put together their most consistent 4 quarters of the season in their 1/4 final victory over the higher seeded Bedford Road Redmen.  They capitalized on their offensive chances and eliminated giving up the big play on defense. A well balanced run and pass attack was featured on offense and the defense reached a new level of physical play and emotional intensity.

Brett Piscio has returned from injury and controls the middle of the Mustang defense at the middle linebacker position and is one of the leage leaders in tackeles. He, along with Zane Fentiman on the outside  are largely responsible for stopping the run for Mount Royal and have brought a punishing presence to the Mustang defense.   The defensive ba...

Fun for the fans, Evan Hardy is an entertaining team to watch.  With zip and some flair, Marshall Dean and his cast of receivers have put up a lot of points.  With the opposition being stronger in the next 3 weeks particularly on defenseand the playoffs following shortly thereafter, the Souls will try to gun their way to shootout victories.  Will teams find a way to slow the Souls down or can their o...