By Nathan Kanter

JP II Crusaders ousted by Royals in lopsided playoff game

Oct 22, 2017 | 12:00 PM

Despite beating the Martensville Royals twice in the regular season, the John Paul II Crusaders senior football team could not complete the trifecta Saturday afternoon.

The team fell 55-14 in the most important meeting of the year: the playoffs.

The loss ends the Crusaders season, while the Royals will move on to the provincial 3A 9-man quarterfinal.

“It’s really disappointing for sure,” Crusaders head coach Bruce Yockey said following the game, referring more to the lopsided score than anything else. 

“One team showed up ready to play, one didn’t. I’ll give Martensville credit. They made some adjustments this week, their top guys went both ways. Not only were we flat but we made huge mistakes all over the field, whether it was tackling, whether we fumbled, whether we mishandled snaps. Just one of those games you’d like to just say it’s over and done with.”

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Yockey said his team was flat right from the start.

It was 13-0 after one quarter and 31-0 at the half.

“Martsenville made the plays when they had to and I’ll give them credit,” Yockey said. ” They came in here today into our field and they laid a licking on us.”

While this one result is tough to swallow at the moment, the Crusaders graduate just one Grade 12 player, Dexter Cameron. He is the only graduating player, which is a good situation to be in for next year, but also unusual.

“This is kind of out of the ordinary,” Yockey said. “We graduate usually seven or eight or 10 each year.”

Though Yockey said he “knew this year would be a tough one for sure” with such a young team, he was confident heading into next season. 

“It seemed like one step forward, two steps back and so today was a double step back for sure. But like I said, we’re looking forward to next year because we return the group so it should be alright.”

Yockey said the offence is what he’s most excited for in the coming years.

With the running back duo of Leo Senger and Declan Wychopen, and quarterback Brady Holhoyi next year, things are certainly looking up.

The offensive line should be stronger too, Yockey added.

“[Our running backs] complement each other so I look forward to that, and using them in a number of different spots,” he said. “You saw today [Wychopen] got open deep a number of times as a receiver. So utilizing those kids’ talents will be key.

“And I think our O-line should be good. We return everybody. Liam Navarro is a good centre, big strong fella, Thomas Ely, Diego Garcia, so we should be OK there as well.”

This was the second straight year the Crusaders season ended at the hands of Martensville, as they also lost to them in the 2016 playoffs.

nathan.kanter@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @NathanKanter11