The Holy Rosary Raiders are charging into the provincial championship after a dominant 55-0 win over the St. Paul Lions Nov.16.
Head Coach Vince Orieux praised the team’s resilience in adapting to St. Paul’s unexpected tactics.
“They tried to bully their way down the field, and we held strong,” he said.
A critical defensive stand early on shifted momentum. Orieux highlighted standout performances from players like quarterback Matthew Fallscheer, who effectively managed the offence, and Nick Hill, a versatile weapon on both sides of the ball.
Now they are preparing for their toughest test yet against long-time rivals, the Cochrane Cobras. The Raiders have faced Cochrane six times since 2015 in provincial matchups but are still chasing their first win.
“This team has grown tremendously this season,” said Orieux. “We’ve closed the gap on Cochrane in recent years, but this year feels different.”
Hill, known for his explosive plays, is determined to make his mark in the final.
“I want to snap their heads back, I want to run all over them, catch the ball on their heads, and dominate. This game will be must-see TV,” said Hill. “If they aren’t planning to stop me and our quarterback, they’re in trouble,” he added confidently.
“Nick is the backbone of our offence,” said Orieux. “If he’s not rolling, we’re not rolling. And he always comes through.”
Facing Cochrane will require the Raiders’ best game yet.
“They’re always well-coached and balanced,” said Orieux. “But this team believes in itself. We’ve got a plan, and we’ll be ready.”
The number two Cobras will take on the number 1 Raiders on Nov. 23 at 11:00 a.m. in Grande Prairie, AB. The championship showdown kicks off this weekend in challenging conditions, with temperatures expected to dip to minus 16 degrees.
The weather is just another hurdle for Hill, who aspires to study law after high school.
“We’ll handle it like everything else this season,” he said.
Fallscheer, the calm leader under center, thanked the team’s supporters.
“The fans have been incredible,” he said. “Their energy gives us confidence. We’re excited to make history for the school and town.”
Hill shared a similar sentiment.
“The support we get is amazing,” he said. “Even if we fail, we know there’s someone behind us. That’s everything.”
The Raiders are poised to make their next provincial title a reality and bring their entire community along for the ride.
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