The hype and excitement surrounding the John Paul II Collegiate football team finally came to life, as the Crusaders took to the field Friday for the first time in the school's 25-year history.
"It has been a very positive experience here at John Paul II," said assistant coach and principal Carlo Hansen. "Staff and students have all got behind it, and are supporting the team. We saw that with the turnout and high attendance at the game on Friday."
With a pre-game barbecue, a mascot marching up and down the sidelines and a booster club and cheer squad, the Crusaders football team has become more than just 40 players on the field. Everyone is involved and a part of this historic season.
"The atmosphere that was created, with the girls' cheer squad was impressive and exciting," said Hansen.
The Crusaders played Kindersley, who some of the Crusaders' coaches believe will be after a provincial title this year. It wasn't an easy task for a team filled with players who have never played before.
The Crusaders held their own, despite not scoring a touchdown against Kindersley and allowing a major on Kindersley's first possession.
Kindersley marched the ball down the field on a 10-play drive beginning at their own 35-yard line to start the game. With a successful convert and an 8-0 lead, Kindersley's defence came out to face the Crusaders, as they began their first offensive drive. After two running plays and a first down negated by a penalty, the Crusaders punted the ball and the first quarter ended 8-0.
In the second quarter, the Crusaders forced a turnover on downs and the offence moved the chains for the first time. Quarterback Nathan Eckel ran on back-to-back plays to pick up the first down. The next play he connected with Jordan Lilly for a 35-yard reception to get the ball to mid field. The Crusaders were forced to punt, and gave up another major on the next Kindersley drive, but some positives and excitement were starting to surface.
The Kobras' star running back broke to the outside and ran for an 85-yard touchdown and Kindersley led 16-0 at the half.
The Crusaders' offence continued to pick up first downs and the defence held the Kobras out of the endzone for the entire third quarter, thanks to knockdowns by defensive backs Luc Piche and Carson Churchman.
Early in the fourth quarter, quarterback Sheldon Cannon connected with Levi Clark to put Kindersley in front 24-0.
Jon Shynkaruk had a sack in the fourth quarter forcing a turnover on downs and the Crusaders used that momentum to march the ball from their own 13-yard line to Kindersley's 17-yard line. After scrambling runs by Eckel and completions to Lilly and Daryl Kjargaard the Crusaders found themselves inside the Kobras' 20. Eckel pressed for the touchdown, but was picked off in the endzone as he rolled out of the pocket and the game ended 24-0.
Dane Iverson, a captain on the defence, was a force on the field the entire game recording nearly 15 tackles and returning kicks with one idea in mind - to run over people instead of around them.
The many positives from the Crusaders should give them the confidence moving forward this season, but the fact that John Paul II staff and students witnessed their first football game made for a special day. The players and coaches can hold their heads high after putting a very respectable effort in against a school with a developed football program.
"Already in the early stages, the football program has created a positive atmosphere in school," said Hansen. "The end result and how they played was kind of icing on the cake. That was even better than I hoped - we didn't look like a bunch of rookies out there."
The next time the Crusaders play in front of their cheer squad, mascot and fans at home will be Sept. 30, as they now will play three straight games on the road. Hansen, head coach Bruce Yockey and the rest of the coaching staff feel by that time, the Crusaders will give their fans even more to cheer about, with four games under their belts and adjustments made.
Yockey admits everything has come together quickly and said they had a chance to work on special teams only the day before the game. According to Hansen the players have been dedicated to the program and this week were at school by 6:30 a.m. for practice before classes started.
The Crusaders will play Delisle Friday. The Rebels are coming off a one-sided win in their first week.
