With more and more green spaces starting to pop up in and around Central Alberta, the thoughts are many are starting to turn to drivers, putters and fairways.

But for several high schoolers, it’s time to play some football.

The Capital District Minor Football Association spring season kicked off this past weekend, and for the first time, the Battle River Shock will field two teams.

The Shock, who are going into their third season in the CDMFA, are made up of high school age football players from all across Central Alberta, including Red Deer, Sylvan Lake, Lacombe, Ponoka, and are based out of Camrose.

The midget tier one Shock got their season going Saturday with a hard fought 7-7 tie against the St. Albert Storm.

Sylvan Lake’s Brad Huhnold scored the only major of the game for the Shock, running one in from 12 yards out.

Lindsay Thurber’s Greg Fowler led the team with 51 yards rushing.

On the defensive side, Huhnold was also credited with a sack, after being subbed in as a linebacker.

Camrose’s Dilshant Garcha preserved the tie for the Shock with a fumble recovery with less than a minute left to play, and Battle River almost won the game but saw a 55 yard field goal attempt from Red Deer’s Brody Slagman blocked on the last play of the contest.

In the midget tier two contest, the Shock ran into a pretty tough Leduc squad, falling 34-6 to the Ti-Cats in a game that saw Battle River turn the ball over five times.

Lacombe’s Darion Hippe scored Battle River’s only touchdown on its second offensive play of the contest, running one in from 61 yards out.

Both Shock clubs are back in action tonight (Wednesday) in Edmonton, with the tier one midgets taking on the Edmonton Raiders, while the tier two squad will battle the Parkland Bandits.

sports@big105.fm