In a game that saw many twist and turns, the John Paul II Crusaders saw their comeback bid disappear in a matter of seconds Thursday evening at Crusader Field.
Just a couple of plays after the Crusaders had come back from a 22-6 deficit to take a 28-22 lead with 7:32 to go in the fourth quarter, Carpenter High Spartans quarterback Josiah Griffiths connected with running back Ethan Kyplain on a 62-yard passing play to put the Meadow Lake team back in front.
It would be a lead that they would never relinquish as the Spartans picked up a 38-28 triumph to drop the Crusaders to 1-3 on the season.
“We had too many mistakes at crucial times,” Crusaders head coach Bruce Yockey said. “Realistically, we could have been up two or three touchdowns early if we didn’t have some dropped passes and a fumble that gave them good field position.
“It was a great turnaround to come back in the second half and take the lead, but we just weren’t able to build any momentum really as we’d shoot ourselves in the foot on a few occasions. However, that’s something that happens when you have a young football team and it’ll be a good learning experience for them.”
While it was a disappointing outcome for the Crusaders, the result was one that sent the 1-3 Spartans into a state of euphoria as they had earned their first victory in two and a half years.
“It’s a huge boost for us and this gives us lot of positivity as we move forward,” Spartans head coach Sam Dawson said. “The guys have been working really hard every day at practice and it was extra special for all of us to get a win like this.”
One of the big contributors for the Spartans was Griffiths, as the Grade 12 quarterback threw three touchdown passes and scampered into the end zone twice.
“He’s actually growing into that role as a mobile quarterback,” Dawson said. “He was our defensive MVP last year, but we needed someone to step up for us at quarterback and he’s done just that.
“You saw that at the end of the game on the passing play to Ethan for the go-ahead touchdown. Our offensive coaches drew up a different pass play that what we had it ran and it worked for us.”
Crusaders quarterback Brady Holhoyi turned in a strong showing of his own in the loss, as he rushed across the goal line twice in the second quarter and threw two touchdown passes to Thomas Swanson in the fourth quarter, even though he was hampered by an ankle injury he suffered a week earlier in Unity.
“He’s still nursing that ankle injury a little bit, but I thought he did a pretty good job out there,” Yockey said.
The Crusaders, who were without top linebacker Andrew Pyle due to a concussion, also lost the services of running back Decklan Wychopen to an injury early in the second quarter.
However, Leo Sanger was able to fit right into the offence, as he had a number of strong runs to move the Crusaders down the field.
“Both of them are fast runners, but Leo’s more of a north-south runner,” Yockey said. “He’s able to find the gaps in the offensive line, while Decklan is more of a jitterbug moving back and forth out there.
“Leo did an exceptional job of going in there when Decklan got hurt and I was very pleased about that.”
The Crusaders will head back out on the road on Thursday afternoon to take on the Delisle Rebels.
Their regular season finale will take place at Crusader Field on Thursday, Oct. 12 when the Martensville Royals will come to town.
