It's the biggest game in Langley Rams history, and it's happening this Saturday at McLeod Stadium.

The B.C. Football Conference champion Rams are hosting the Saskatoon Hilltops in the Canadian Bowl.

The winner-take-all showdown will decide the top team in Canadian junior football.

"We're confident," said defensive back Jordan Linnen, one of the Rams' captains. "We're on a high right now, coming off a big win within our conference."

Linnen says each player has some level of nervousness and anxiety going into a game of such magnitude but added that it's important "to not let our emotions take over."

"We can handle high pressure situations," Linnen stressed. "For us, our coaches have done a good job preparing us week in and week out."

The Rams have to focus on playing their game, Linnen said, "and not do anything different. We have to play the way we've played all year because that's what got us here."

The Hilltops - who trounced the Ontario Football Conference champion London Beefeaters 517 in the Josten's Cup - will be going for their third consecutive national title.

The visitors are led by linebacker Ben Cressman, the Prairie Football Conference's Outstanding Defensive Player for 2012, the PFC's top receiver Kyle McGinnis, and Donovan Dale, the conference's Outstanding Defensive Lineman.

For this current crop of Rams, playing in a Canadian Junior Football League title game is akin to entering uncharted waters.

It's been 20 years since a Rams team last played in the Canadian Bowl.

In 1992 the then-Surrey Rams lost 35-18 to the Ottawa Sooners in the nation's capital.

On Oct. 27 the Rams won the B.C. title, and earned their spot in the Canadian final, with a 20-13 win over the powerhouse Vancouver Island Raiders.

The victory over the previously undefeated Raiders occurred in hostile territory, Caledonia Park in Nanaimo.

Heading into Saturday's game, some might consider the Rams to be the underdogs, even with 11 BCFC all-stars - including the conference's Outstanding Defensive Player Adam Konar, Outstanding Lineman Anthony Daley, and the two-time Outstanding Special Teams Player Nick Downey - in their lineup.

Rams' head coach Jeff Alamolhoda has faith in his troops.

"They [the Hilltops] definitely have a strong team but I feel we match up well against them," Alamolhoda said.

"A key point for us is to come out strong and maintain [a high] level of energy while keeping our heads and emotions in check."

The Rams had lots of homework to do when it came to scouting the Hilltops.

That's why they've been poring through film leading up to the big game.

"We're doing what we usually do," said Daley, the Rams' starting centre. "We're watching a lot of film, picking up on what they're trying to do."

Daley said the vibe he gets from his teammates is that everyone is confident.

"I like where we sit right now," Daley said. "We have an advantage because nobody expects us to come out on top."

Daley said the Rams are going to give it 100 per cent and see where that takes them.

"Everybody wants it [the Canadian title]. Who doesn't? This is an opportunity not everybody gets - maybe once or twice in a lifetime. I look at it as a building block to move onto bigger and better things, regardless of the outcome."

As for the Rams' opponents, during their regular season, the Hilltops finished second in the PFC with a 6-2 record, four points behind the 8-0 Calgary Colts.

The Colts were upset by the Regina Thunder in the conference semifinal, falling 24-21.

The Hilltops went on to blank the Thunder 37-0 in the PFC championship game.

"It's clear they have a strong running game," Alamolhoda said. "They like to win the war in the trenches so if we're going to win, we have to win in the trenches. We have to play at the highest level we can."

Hilltops' head coach Tom Sargeant's description of his own team mirrors Alamolhoda's scouting report.

"We're a real ground-and-pound football team with a real strong running game and a good offensive line," Sargeant said. "Defensively, our front seven are real tough to run against."

Sargeant believes, from what he has seen on film, that the Rams will present a stern test.

"They are a highly talented football team with a lot of impact players - even more than we have," Sargeant said.

Alamolhoda said Saskatoon is a very physical, fundamentally sound team. He also believes the Hilltops might try to impose their will on the Rams.

"Our M.O. is we refuse to take bullying," the head coach offered. "It seems like all year teams have been trying to bully us. Our guys don't accept it. They take offence to it, actually."

Langley's offence will try to hit the Hilltops from every angle.

"It's going to be key to stay balanced, to run the ball and throw the ball to both of our stud receivers, Nick Downey and Malcolm Williams, and have them handle the rock," Alamolhoda said.

Much of the Rams' fate rests on the right throwing arm of quarterback Greg Bowcott.

"We'll just let Greg do what he does: make plays at the quarterback position," Alamolhoda quipped.

Asked if he believes that Saskatoon will be kicking the ball away from the ever-dangerous Downey, Alamolhoda said the Hilltops will probably try to test the Rams' speedster.

"I think they'll try kicking to him at first to see what he's about," Alamolhoda predicted. "He's going to get the ball kicked to him the first couple of times, but I've got a funny feeling that they'll see how dangerous he is, and they'll start kicking away from him."

This will be arguably the biggest game of the Langley players' football lives, to date.

The task on game day for Alamolhoda and the coaching staff is to keep the players' emotions at an even keel.

"It's going to be an emotionally charged game," Alamolhoda predicted Tuesday. "The guys will feel differently than they've ever felt on a football field because of what's at stake. They'll have to teeter that fine line of playing on an emotional high and with mental stability. They'll have to have the ability to play in what the players like to call, 'the zone' because it's going to be a heavyweight battle come Saturday."

The Hilltops have a winning tradition, with 15 Canadian Bowl titles to their credit.

But Sargeant said football success varies from year to year, adding that the best team will win on Saturday.

"We're excited about the challenge and the opportunity," Sargeant said. "This program is set up to win championships - nothing more, nothing less. When that doesn't happen, we deal with it like men and move on."

Opening kickoff for the season finale is 1 p.m.

CANADIAN BOWL

What: Canadian junior football championship game

Who: Langley Rams hosting the Saskatoon Hilltops

Where: McLeod Stadium, at McLeod Athletic Park

When: Saturday, Nov. 10.

Opening kickoff is 1 p.m.

tlandreville@langleyadvance.com