Skip to content

Crusaders show improvement in loss to Warman

The last three games have been tough for the John Paul II Crusaders football team.
Crusaders Warman
John Paul II Crusaders running back Andrew Pyle powered his way around Warman Wolveriners defenders Tuesday in Warman. Photo by Lucas Punkari

The last three games have been tough for the John Paul II Crusaders football team.

After starting the year with two straight wins, they have dropped their last three contests with their most recent loss coming by a score of 54-12 Tuesday afternoon against the host Warman Wolverines.

However, as his team gears up for their regular season finale Friday when they travel to Meadow Lake to face the Carpenter Spartans, Crusaders head coach Bruce Yockey is starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel.

“Our guys worked hard right until the end and I would take this loss any day over what happened to us in the last two games against Martensville and Delisle,” Yockey said.

“I thought we played really well in the first half and we hung around pretty well. Our defence just stayed out on the field a little too long at times, and that was the biggest key in the game.”

The Crusaders are also dealing with a battered and bruised lineup, with their most notable loss being talented running back Jacob Stynsky, who continues to battle through a sprained ankle.

“We’re injured right now, there’s no doubt about it,” Yockey said. “We have guys playing in positions that they’re not familiar with right now and it shows on occasion.

“Andrew Pyle and Adam Fransoo have done a great job playing at both ends of the field, but you can’t be as productive when you’re out there almost the entire game.”

Devin McAllister scored a touchdown for the Crusaders on a late second quarter kick-off return while Fransoo reached the end zone after he caught a 14-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Paul Cubbon early in the third quarter.

“Adam’s a guy you pretty much have to drag off of the field at times,” Yockey said.

“He’s one of a number of players on our team that is a strong leader. He wants to stay out there and help out in any way that he can, and that’s something I really appreciate.”

The Wolverines, who won the 3A provincial nine-man title last year, are now 5-0 on the season as they look to win a second straight crown.

“We haven’t practiced since last Tuesday due to the weather and the long weekend, so I was really happy with how things went,” Wolverines head coach Tyler Scheidt said.

“The Crusaders tried to stack the box a little bit to take away our running game, which has been very effective for us this year, but that allowed us to get a number of yards through the air instead.”

Although the Crusaders will have a short turnaround for their regular season finale in Meadow Lake, they will be motivated by the chance to host a home playoff game next Saturday if they come out strong.

“It depends what happens in the other games as well, but we have to take care of our job first,” Yockey said.