The John Paul II Crusaders were home Thursday to the Kindersley Kobras in nine-man high school football action in North Battleford.
The Crusaders were coming off a 32-0 stomping by Meadow Lake on the road, and got off to a fast start at home with a drive to begin the first quarter.
Quarterback Mason Mullaney capped it with a long toss to Riley Loeppky for the touchdown. The two-point conversion was good and the Crusaders were up 8-0 right away in the first quarter.
Kindersley got on the board when a punt netted a single point.
Then a pick by Heath Thorton at the 30-yard line put the Kobras in Crusader territory, but a couple of sacks by Crusaders defenders prevented the drive from going any further. The Kobras booted the football into the end zone for another single point to make it 8-2. That would be all the scoring in the first.
As the second period began, the Crusaders were on the march again.
Another long bomb for 60 yards was caught by Narcisse Mbwebwe at the Kobras' three-yard line. Jacob Stynsky would run it into the end zone on second down for the touchdown.
Mason Mullaney got the two-point conversion and it was 16-2 Crusaders in the second.
In the second, after another Kobra drive fizzled out, the Crusaders were forced to start their drive from their one-yard line, and they were ultimately forced to concede a safety in their end zone, making it 16-4.
Another late drive in the half by the Crusaders almost produced a touchdown but the pass was dropped in the end zone on third down, forcing a turnover on downs. The half ended with the Crusaders up 16-4.
In the third quarter, Kindersley mounted a drive that made its way deep into JPII territory, but a third down gamble at the JPII 26 forced a turnover on downs. On the next drive, the Crusaders made their way down the field. Along 35-yard pass from QB Jared Schmidt connected with Jacob Stynsky, who ran into the end zone, which made it a 22-4 game for the Crusaders.
The Kobras could concede a single point in the end zone from a punt in the fourth quarter, and the Crusaders won over Kindersley 23-4.
Next action for the Crusaders is week Oct. 1 at home to Meadow Lake. Game time is 4 p.m.
