The Carlton Crusaders are looking to build off the success they had in the North Saskatchewan Football League (NSFL) a year ago.
The Crusaders finished atop the regular season standings posting a 4-0 record in NSFL play. The Crusaders also played a pair of games against Holy Rosary and Bishop Mahoney.
Head coach Lindsay Strachan says the entire team is looking forward to the season ahead.
“We’re very excited, it’s always a great time of year when we get to get back on the field together and we had a bit of a reorganized spring camp there right at the end of June after (STF) sanctions got sorted out. Excitement is high to get back together and get to work. We’ve had three good practices now and we’re getting better every day. This is where we want to be.”
Last season, the Crusaders had the best offense in the league in terms of points score. With 199 points scored across five NSFL contests. St. Mary had the second ranked offense with 105 points scored. In total, the Crusaders scored 243 points across seven games, an average of about 35 points per game
Strachan says the Carlton will look to rely on their offense all season long.
“We’ve got a good core group of skill guys returning on offense. We’re excited to see that for another year. Very similar group to what we saw in those positions last year. A little bit of turnover on each line. We’re working some bodies through those spots, trying to find our best look. We’ve got some critical defensive guys back. We’re trying to replace a big part of our defense last year and we’re going to do that by committee. We’re excited with what we’ve got at the DB and lineback spots this year too.”
One of the key contributors on the offensive ball for Carlton a season ago was quarterback Sully Smith-Windsor. Smith-Windsor will be one of the leaders for the Crusader offense in his Grade 12 season.
He says having the chemistry among the offense from last season will help the Crusaders hit the ground running this season.
“We’re all super excited, we got a great team out here (and) good coaching staff. Our new field, we’re all pumped about that and we’re all just ready for a good season. It’s super awesome. You got lots of returning guys who have good chemistry all around. We should have a pretty good offense this year.”
It wasn’t quite the perfect season the Crusaders were hoping for. In the playoffs, Carlton was defeated 32-28 by the St. Mary Marauders in a game which they led 14-0 after the first quarter.
Gage Prodaehl, who plays on both sides for Carlton as a defensive back and running back, says the Crusaders have been using that game as motivation throughout the offseason.
“I know lots of the older guys want to get back at them but we’re gonna do it in a calm and collected way. We’re not gonna let our emotions get the best of us and also play our game and not be too confident and come in there like we did last year.”
See a future edition of the Daily Herald for a St. Mary football preview
sports@paherald.sk.ca
