By Jeff D'Andrea

Crusaders upset rivals to win Div III title

Nov 2, 2017 | 9:59 PM

In what was already a historic night on Max Clunie Field, the Carlton Crusaders senior football team added the cherry on top.

For the first time in at least seven years, the Crusaders beat their crosstown rivals, the St. Mary Marauders, 25-22 Thursday to capture their second consecutive Saskatoon High School Football Division III championship. This is the first time the Crusaders have met the Marauders in the playoffs in Prince Albert.

The Marauders came into the game having won every regular season game against the Crusaders each year since the Canadian Tire Classic was formed in 2012. The Crusaders picked a good time to buck the trend. 

“It’s big. I mean… I’m at a loss for words right now,” Crusaders head coach Lindsay Strachan said before regathering himself. “I’m just really excited for these guys. Our journey this year has taken us on different roads than we foresaw at the start of the season. I think as a group, we emerged stronger here in the last little bit.”

The Crusaders got a huge performance from their Grade 12 quarterback Jacques Lavoie when they needed it the most. Down 15-10 with six minutes left in the game, Lavoie scored two rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter to give the Crusaders a 25-15 lead with 1:35 remaining in the game.

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Up until Thursday night, Lavoie went his entire senior team career without beating his rivals. He’s quite glad that is no longer the case, beating them in his last high school game.

“It means so much to me,” Lavoie said, after rushing for 108 yards and throwing for another 38. “It’s really awesome fricking winning after how many years of losing. It’s a memorable day.”

The Crusaders offence wasn’t clicking as well in the first half, as they were held off the scoreboard. It was their defence that generated all of their points in the first half. They forced St. Mary’s to concede their first of two safeties in the game, then Isaiah Holoniuk returned an interception for 35 yards for a touchdown late in the second quarter to draw the score to 8-8 at the half.

“That’s literally a kid that came up through the junior team. He’s been with us for two weeks,” Strachan said of Holoniuk, who had two picks in the game. “He’s just stepping up and making a huge play. He made a couple of those plays tonight that just show the type of football player he’s going to be for a few years here. Amazing.”

Tyler Rock scored a touchdown in the first quarter for the Marauders. He also found Grant Alexander in the endzone with 1:05 left in the game to make it interesting late. Nick Otto also found the endzone for the Marauders in the third quarter.

Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW