Carlton celebrates a touchdown against F.W. Johnson during provincial semifinal action in Prince Albert on Nov. 2, 2024. (Logan Lehmann/paNOW)

By Logan Lehmann

For all the marbles

Carlton to battle for 5A provincial title against BJM

Nov 9, 2024 | 7:30 AM

The best-of-the-best in Saskatchewan 5A high school football are set to duke it out for the crown on Saturday afternoon.

After winning the provincial semifinals last weekend at home, the Carlton Crusaders will now head into enemy territory where they will face off with the Bishop James Mahoney (BJM) Saints for the 5A provincial championship at Saskatoon’s SMF Field.

The Crusaders won the North Sask. Football League (NSFL) and downed the F.W. Johnson Wildcats from Regina in their semifinal matchup, 39-13. Meanwhile, the Saints are champions of the Saskatoon League and made it to the finals by downing Moose Jaw’s Central Cyclones from the South Rural League in the semis, 31-3.

“[BJM is] not a team that we’ve watched at all this year so I’m looking forward to kind of seeing what they do, but that’s a quality program from year to year like they’re always competing for that 5A title in Saskatoon. We know we’re going to see a good team and a good game next week, so we’ll get prepped up and ready to roll,” said Carlton head coach Lindsay Strachan following their semifinal win.

Carlton has been dominant all season and boasts a flawless regular-season record entering the finals, as does BJM. Notably, either school has also faced at least one loss during their two exhibition games earlier this season. Both schools fell at the hands of Saskatoon’s 6A powerhouse Holy Cross and BJM also fell to 6A St. Joseph in Saskatoon, while Carlton shutout Saskatoon’s Centennial Collegiate in Prince Albert.

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Since BJM’s exhibition loss to St. Joseph in Week 4, the Saints have outscored their opponents 185-19 in over their last five games, while the Crusaders have outscored their opponents 207-36 over their last five.

BJM is one of the premiere football schools in Saskatchewan and are no strangers to the bright lights of the 5A provincial finals, having five finals appearances in the last 10 years while winning it all in 2016, 2018, and 2022. As for Carlton, this is their first time competing for the 5A provincial title.

The 5A football provincial final kicks off at 1:00 p.m. in Saskatoon at SMF Field.

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loganc.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com