The John Paul II Crusaders may have failed to make the playoffs in their first season of nine-man football, but the season, the first in school history, was something to be proud of and something to build on in the future.
The Crusaders ended their season with a 15-11 loss in Martensville Friday, finishing the season with a 1-5-1 record.
The game in Martensville wasn't how the Crusaders hoped to end the season, especially after coming off their first win one week earlier.
"Defensively we played really well," said head coach Bruce Yockey. "Offensively, that might have been one of our poorest efforts of the season, which was a bit disappointing to see."
The final game proved to Yockey and his staff that the journey and development of this team needs to continue and it perhaps brought the team back to reality of how difficult it can be in to win a game on the road. The overall development of the program, however, took giant steps this season from losing 24-0 and 74-0 in their first two games to tying 10-10, winning 24-14 and losing 15-11 in their final three games.
"Overall, big picture, I am happy with the way things went and the way the team progressed," said Yockey. "We kind of made an adjustment mid-season where we thought things were coming along at a good enough pace that we didn't look to just compete, but instead beat some teams. We came along further than what I had imagined at the start of the year."
A positive for the Crusaders is the experience from this year will put next season's team and the expectations further ahead. The Crusaders graduate just four players, in linebacker Ben Esqirol, defensive lineman Riley McKenzie, running back Garrison McLaren and defensive back Jon Lafreniere. Those players will leave some holes to fill, but Yockey is confident that with younger players coming up to join the program and other Grade 10 and 11 students who were on the fence this season and excited to play next year, they should be able to continue to build from this inaugural season. Yockey also noted how they hope to work with some of the players and help them get bigger stronger and faster before the spring camp at the end of the school year.
The Crusaders season officially comes to an end Nov. 1, as the team will host a supper and awards banquet at John Paul II at 6 p.m.
