The Holy Rosary Raiders may have the opportunity to host a playoff game on their new turf field later this month, but they have one more hurdle in the way. That’s the Nov. 7 game in Cold Lake against the St. Paul Lions.
A win could possibly secure a home playoff game to be played Nov. 15 on the nearly-completed Canadian Natural Field, just west of the school.
That chance turned drive showed during Monday’s high-intensity practice inside the Synergy Vault. The sounds of footballs snapping into receivers’ hands echoed through the air as the Raiders ran blocking drills, sharpened routes, and absorbed every word of instruction from their coaches. Energy filled the space as the team fine-tuned its playbook ahead of Friday’s matchup.
St. Paul isn’t a team to take lightly, the Lions handed the Raiders a tough loss three years ago, a memory that still fuels the team’s preparation this week.
“I would say it’s our rivalry now that (Lloydminster Comprehensive) is gone,” said Grade 12 receiver and defensive back Denem Weber. “We lost to them three years ago, we still remember that. Played with a little chip on your shoulder, should be a good game.”
After months of watching construction crews work on their new artificial-turf field, the Raiders can finally see it nearing completion. Head coach Vince Orieux said the team’s excitement has grown with every visible change outside their school.
“The kids walk by every day to check progress,” he said. “If we win this week, we could host a quarterfinal right here, that would be special.”
That opportunity motivates players like Weber.
“I was hoping we were gonna get to play on it Friday,” he said. “But I guess the winner of this game gets to host the quarterfinal, so we’ll just have to win.”
The Raiders have used the downtime caused by the teachers’ strike in Alberta to regroup, heal up, and sharpen their execution after a 5-0 preseason schedule. Orieux said the team’s discipline and work ethic have stood out as they’ve prepared for the playoffs.
“We’ve got a good group of kids,” he said. “They’re excited, they’re healthy, and they’re ready to go. If we can extend our season, we might just get the chance to open that new field with a playoff win.”
Weber said St. Paul remains one of the toughest teams they’ll face this season, and one the Raiders are eager to measure themselves against.
“They’re a good team, a disciplined team,” Weber said. “They know how to run the ball, and we’ll have to figure out how to shut that down. When they start passing, we’ll shut that down as well.”
The new $2.4-million field, which could see action Nov. 15, has been supported by local sponsors with help from various levels of government. It will serve both school and city sports for years to come. For the Raiders, it’s more than just new turf — it’s a chance to possibly make history on home ground.
