Marauders running back Kenneth Gonzalez got a piggyback from a teammate to rise above the crowd and enjoy his moment with the Canadian Tire Classic cup. Jeff D'Andrea/paNOW Staff

By Jeff D’Andrea

Gee Whiz!

Marauders beat Crusaders in Div. II final and Canadian Tire Classic

Nov 4, 2021 | 10:02 PM

The St. Mary Marauders won possibly the most important high school football game in Prince Albert history by three touchdowns, but head coach Curt Hundeby didn’t really enjoy it until his team flooded onto the field after the final play.

His Marauders defeated the Carlton Crusaders 35-14 Thursday at Max Clunie Field to win the Saskatoon football league Div. II finals, and the Canadian Tire Classic for the second straight time over the Crusaders.

But the Crusaders have been clutch all season, and have many dangerous offensive weapons that kept Hundeby tense until time expired.

“It’s a huge exhale. I was holding my breath until the very end. They’re a good team that can score points, and have done so at the end of games. Until that clock read zero, I knew that it wasn’t over,” Hundeby said. “I’m happy for our guys, I’m really happy for our Grade 12’s, to be able to finish out the season with a win and to go out champions. I’m really excited for them.”

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All three of the Marauders’ touchdown scorers were Grade 12 athletes.

Ethan Gee and Gavin Johns both scored a pair of rushing touchdowns. Quarterback Brady Robin also scored on a quarterback keeper.

Gee scored the Marauders’ first and last touchdowns of the game, on similar misdirection runs to the left side from nine yards out. He talked about preparing with the rest of the Grade 12’s throughout the week, knowing it would be their last game in Marauder blue and black.

“All the guys, we sat down and we had a talk. We told the guys that we needed to get mentally prepared for this game because it’s not going to be easy. Carlton’s going to give it to us, and they did for the first half. But that second half, we just prevailed,” Gee said after the game. “It feels really amazing, especially after not having a season last year because of COVID. Man, it was just awesome to come back out here and dominate the league.”

Ethan Gee gathered the Marauders at midfield after the game for a celebratory postgame message. Jeff D’Andrea/paNOW Staff

Scoring Summary

The Crusaders had a third and inches situation in the middle of the field, but instead of performing another quarterback keep as they did for the previous set of downs, Sullivan Smith-Windsor rolled to his right and was promptly sacked by big Corban Taylor.

The Marauders then found themselves in a third and seven, but Blake Callahan kept the drove alive with a big 17-yard gain up the middle. Ethan Gee would score from nine yards out of misdirection play, giving the Marauders a 7-0 advantage midway through the first quarter.

The Marauders would then misfire on their next possession. After Crusaders’ Gage Prodaehl pinned the Marauders deep in their own end with a coffin corner punt, the Crusaders then sacked Brady Robin on back-to-back plays, pushing them to their own two-yard line. Robin attempted to concede the safety but accidentally downed the ball on his own one-yard line. Crusaders’ Sullivan Smith-Windsor kept it himself and tied it up at 7-7 with 51.5 seconds remaining in the first quarter.

Robin would get a chance to redeem himself, as his QB keeper restored the Marauders’ lead to 14-7 early in the second quarter.

The Crusaders knocked on the door for the rest of the quarter as they marched down the field. After they got stopped in the red zone on third down, the Crusaders forced a two-and-out and Sullivan Smith-Windsor found Prodaehl in the end zone on the last play of the half to tie it up at 14-14.

The Marauders would only need a minute to restore their lead to start the third quarter, as Gavin Johns broke to the left side for a 65-yard scamper. The Marauders took a 21-14 lead on the long Johns rush.

Johns would similarly start the fourth, as he ran a reverse to the house from 40 yards out in the opening minute of the final frame. That doubles the Marauders’ lead to 28-14.

“They were huge. They gave us momentum and they sealed the deal. It was awesome,” Hundeby said of Johns’ breakout rushes.

Gee would baseball slide into the end from 10 yards out, as the Marauders pulled away to lead 35-14 with 6:31 remaining in the game.

As much as Gee and Johns and Robin will get the glory, Hundeby also credited the offensive line for opening up lanes for the skill players. He also highlighted the bruising back Blake Callahan, who ran through the Crusaders and was instrumental at the end of the game to kill off the clock.

Crusaders running back Tazmin Smith-Windsor reaches for a first down. Jeff D’Andrea/paNOW Staff

Canadian Tire Classic history

For obvious pandemic-related reasons, the Canadian Tire Classic was not played in 2020. Before then, 2019 ended in a 27–27 draw, but both teams ended up meeting the following week in the playoffs. The cup carried over to that, where the Marauders won 23-11.

The Crusaders won their first classic in 2018, beating the Marauders 26-14. The Marauders won the first six matchups in the Canadian Tire Classic format (22–8 win in 2017, 57–22 win in 2016, 20-7 win in 2015, 14-2 win in 2014, 17–12 in 2013, and 21–14 win in 2012).

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Jeff.dandrea@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW