By Jeff D'Andrea

Marauders and Crusaders clash in historic playoff game

Nov 1, 2017 | 5:00 PM

The St. Mary Marauders and Carlton Crusaders senior football teams will do something on Thursday they’ve never done before — play in a playoff game against each other in Prince Albert.

Both teams will meet in the Division III final of the 4A Saskatoon High School Football League. The Crusaders won the Division III last year, while the Marauders won Division II.

“This is the first time we’ve ever been able to have a playoff game in P.A. between us and Carlton, so it’s a pretty big deal,” Marauders head coach Curt Hundeby said. “I hope lots of people can come out. I know it’s going to be chilly, but we’re at six o’clock—it’s after work. Go grab a hot chocolate and come enjoy the game. It should be a real good football game.”

This isn’t the first playoff game held in Prince Albert. Crusaders head coach Lindsay Strachan said his team hosted a 3A semifinals game.

“Yeah, it’s cool,” Strachan said. “Anytime we can play some playoff football outside of Saskatoon, it’s obviously a big deal for us rural centres that are playing in SSSAD.”

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Usually when the Crusaders and Marauders meet, it’s in the Canadian Tire Classic. The crosstown cup was won by the Marauders all six times since the cup was introduced in 2012.

They beat the Crusaders 22-8 on Sept. 21 this year in their most recent meeting. But Hundeby said Thursday’s game is the most important they’ve played.

“Both teams desperately want to finish the season with the win, regardless of who we’d be playing. But the fact we’re playing a crosstown rival, it means so much more,” Hundeby said. “This game probably erases what happened in the Canadian Tire Classic for either team, this is the one people are going to remember and this is the one people are going to talk about.”

For the Crusaders to buck the trend and get a big win over the Marauders, Strachan said they need to keep turnovers at a minimum and not give up any favourable field position.

“Especially when the weather gets cold here, ball security will be huge. We just need to look after the football,” Strachan said. “Playing at this time of year, it’s all about being physical and executing, whether it’s offence, defence or special.”

Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW