By Jeff D'Andrea

Crusaders plan to tackle well in first playoff game

Oct 27, 2011 | 11:27 AM

The Carlton Crusaders football team headed into this season with a 17-game losing streak dating back to 2008, but have finished this regular season with an impressive 5-2 record on the year.

But for their first playoff game, they will have to face one of the two teams that have beat them this season, the St. Joseph Guardians from Saskatoon.

“We have a confident group of guys, we’ve had a lot of success this year,” said Crusaders head coach Rylan Michalchuk.

“The last time we played these guys, we know we didn’t play our best game. We have a lot of confidence and a lot of optimism to the game Friday, with really good game plans on both sides of the ball, so it will come down to who executes better and who’s willing to leave it on the field.”

The last time the Crusaders played the Guardians, a 37-14 loss on Oct. 13, they could not stop the run. Guardians running back Tanner White stole the show, scoring four rushing touchdowns and ran for 299 yards on just 18 carries.

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Michalchuk knows the team will have to stop White in order to win, but that’s no easy task as White leads the league in rushing with 1,052 yards.

“They have a very strong running back in Tanner White, so what we need to do is get all 12 guys to the football,” said Michalchuk.

“We have a few different defensive strategies in this weekend, so we feel if we can contain him, we’ll be successful.

“It’s not going to be easy but we believe that we can do it.”

The Crusaders will also try to establish the running game as well with Jordan Gabriel-Cannon, who’s also eclipsed 1,000 yards this season, but quarterback James Thorpe and receiver Aaron Jensen have really clicked as of late.

The Crusaders will face the Guardians Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the Gordie Howe Bowl in Saskatoon.

Marauders prepare for tough game

Also playing Friday are the St. Mary Marauders, finishing the season with a 3-4 record like they did last season.

They will have no easy task, taking on second best team in the league the Aden Bowman Bears who have a 5-1-1 record and a great all around team.

But the Marauders will go into the game on a high after beating the Walter Murray Marauders 24-22. Walter Murray played Aden Bowman during the first week, with the Bears winning 15-0.

St. Mary head coach Curt Hundeby believes that by beating a Walter Murray team that played the Bears as close as they did can only do good things for his team’s confidence.

“It’s nice to be able to play a team that had played them tough and see that we can play them tough as well,” said Hundeby. “It’s a really big confidence booster for our guys and a big confidence for our offence.”

The Marauders made a change last week in quarterback, using Robbie Stefanyshyn for the first time and he threw for two touchdowns and 88 yards. Cody Sjogren also made his debut offensively, catching two touchdown passes from the tight end position.

Hundeby hopes their passing game, which has greatly improved as the season as gone on, will take some heat off of Grade 10 running back Bryant Sackney, who’s rushed for 826 yards, good for third in the league.

The Marauders will play the Bears at 5:15 p.m. at the Gordie Howe Bowl.

jdandrea@panow.com