After a successful regular season, the Carlton Crusaders football team will be sending a modern record number of representatives to the Football Saskatchewan Senior Bowl.
Five players and two coaches will represent the team in Regina on Sunday. Linebacker coach Cole Puetz, defensive lineman Emmanuel Azinta, defensive back Miller Childress, running back Rylan Morrison, linebacker Colton Middlebrooks, running backs and special teams coach Jordan Gabriel-Cannon and wide receiver and kicker Zane Litzenberger will be representing the team
Crusaders head coach Lindsay Strachan said he is excited to see so many players and coaches represent the Crusaders.
“It’s a great representation of our program,” Strachan said. “I don’t know that we’ve ever had that many players—not since I’ve been around or involved, which is a few years now. But (I’m) excited for them to have an opportunity to showcase their talents.
“Some of them are moving on to some next levels and for some, this will be their last time in equipment.”
Strachan said it was nice to have representatives from both side of the ball. Litzenberger is also a kicker and Strachan hopes he can contribute that way as well.
“I’m not sure what their plans are with him for specials, but I’m sure he’ll show up somewhere, whether he’s kicking or returning.”
Strachan said having that many players in the Senior Bowl helps to build expectations for younger players.
“I think it’s really good for those younger players to get to see the opportunities that are there,” he said.
“If you were going to pick a group of kids that represent what we believe makes good football players and good people, I mean, that’s a perfect example of that group right there. (That’s) not to say that that’s the only group of it, but they’re great representatives of our program.”
Morrison said that he was happy with his performance at the Saskatoon tryouts on May 10, but wasn’t shocked he made the final cut.
“There were only two running backs, so seeing as it was pretty stupid to just cut one of us and then leave one running back for the Senior Bowl, I wasn’t surprised that I made it,” he said. “I kind of knew I was (going) but I was still happy with how I did and how I performed.”
This will be Morrison’s last game of tackle football. He’s happy to end his high school football career at the Senior Bowl.
“It should be really fun with all my friends going down there, going to Regina, this big stadium, playing the best kids from the southern part of Saskatchewan. It’ll be really fun and a nice way to end our season,” he said.
Morrison added that it was nice to see so many Crusaders on the Senior Bowl roster.
“It’s really cool to see this many guys from PA that used to just be this little football team. I wouldn’t say (we) sucked. We were good, but seeing us as the underdogs kind of and then coming out here and doing something like this is pretty cool.”
Morrison agreed with Strachan that it was nice to have representatives from all sides of the ball. He said it’s great to have a few coaches along for the trip too.
Morrison added that everyone looked great at the tryouts.
“I’m just happy with the performance everybody put on. Everybody looked good out there. Everybody looked great.”
The Senior Bowl is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Mosaic Stadium on Sunday.
Strachan said Tucker Prodaehl also made the U18 Male Team Saskatchewan that will be competing in the Canada Cup this summer.
Carlton also has two female football players who will represent Saskatchewan on the national level, and another who plans to join the Saskatoon Valkyries. The Daily Herald will have a story on them in the next edition of Rural Roots.
michael.oleksyn@paherald.sk.ca
