Photo: Contributed
Saskatchewan and Alberta will do battle Sunday night in the championship game of the 2022 Football Canada Cup being played this week at the Apple Bowl.
The teams earned their way into the title game of the tournament which brings together many of the best U18 football players in the country, with semi-final wins Thursday.
Saskatchewan got three rushing touchdowns from Carter Ashman in a 23-11 win over Ontario in one semi, while Matteo Civitarese caught three touchdown passes in leading Alberta to a 23-13 upset of Quebec in the other semi.
In the first semi final, Saskatchewan built up a 16-3 lead at the half, then pushed it to 23-3 on Ashman’s third touchdown of the afternoon early in the fourth quarter.
Ontario’s lone major came in the dying moments when Matthew Jovanovic hauled in a two-yard pass.
Ontario actually outgained Saskatchewan 301 yards to 256, but were unable to find the end zone until late.
In the other semi, quarterback Josh Page dissected the Quebec secondary, completing 12 of 20 passes for 229 yards and three touchdowns in the victory.
Civitarese hauled in five of those for 140 yards including touchdown catches of 34, 19 and 66 yards.
Quebec did most of their damage on the ground, led by Antwan Raymond’s 151 yards, but turnovers and and a tenacious Alberta secondary held them to field goals until very late in the game.
Alberta led 9-3 after one quarter and 16-6 at the half. After a scoreless third, they pushed the lead to 23-6 when Civitarese hauled in a 66 yard strike from Page in the fourth.
Sunday’s championship game is scheduled for 7 pm at the Apple Bowl.
The host BC team won their first of the week, 36-3 over winless New Brunswick.
Running back Joe Murphy led the way for the hosts, scoring a pair of touchdowns in the romp.
BC will face Manitoba for fifth Sunday.
