The John Paul II Crusaders entered their second game of the regular season and were looking to win back-to-back games for the first time ever and pass last season's win total.
That wasn't the case Thursday at Beaver Lions Stadium, as the Crusaders fell 35-21 to the Meadow Lake Spartans.
The Crusaders showed some inexperience Thursday, as the secondary was beat on several identical passing plays in second and long situations, and the offence failed to connect on their key passing situations.
"It is a learning thing, we will watch the film from this," said Crusaders head coach Bruce Yockey. "We go to Meadow Lake and play these guys again this season and so hopefully we will have some things for them that they haven't seen."
Quarterback Nathan Eckel tried to rally his team and mount a comeback. He sparked the offence when he connected with Justin Johanneson.
"Nathan, I was really impressed with him, he makes things happen with his legs and buys himself some time and he has a good arm," said Yockey. "Unfortunately maybe at times he pressed a little to hard, too. He has to realize he doesn't have to do it all himself. I don't ever fault a guy who wants to win. He wants to win and is going to be a leader and I appreciate that."
The Spartans tossed some salt in the wounds of the Crusaders to seal their final touchdown. After kneeling down with seconds to play on first down, Meadow Lake opted to run a quarterback sneak on the next play when Chase Paylor scored a major.
John Paul II takes their 1-1 record to Warman Thursday.
