JP Crusaders to field young lineup this season

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The plan right now is to have a three-pronged running back approach, all of whom are in Grade 9: Latrall Fullston, Leo Singer, and Decklan Wychopen.

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Grade 11 receiver Blaise Sieben may also take some reps at running back, though Yockey admitted that wouldn’t be where he wants to be.

The biggest questions for the Crusaders this season is how they’ll replace two seniors at arguably the most important positions: Jacob Stynsky at running back, who graduated and is off to Presentation College in South Dakota, and Paul Cubbon at quarterback, who also graduated.

The running back by committee approach from their young athletes is how they deal with Stynsky’s loss, but in replacing Cubbon’s loss, the Crusaders have someone with a bit more experience.

“At quarterback it looks like Brady Holhoyi…will probably be our starter and we’ll go from there,” Yockey said of the Grade 11 athlete. “He took some reps last year. Won’t be too bad. He’s got a good arm under him. It’s just going to be getting him the game experience so that he reads and can react to certain situations.”

Throughout the rest of the lineup, Yockey reiterated that the Crusaders should be fine.

But they will be keeping things simple.

“We still have good athletes at a lot of good positions,” Yockey said. “I think our offensive line is going to be strong, which will help thsoe younger running backs and our quarterback. So hopefully if we can protect him and ease him into things, that’ll help a lot. Defensively same thing: we do have some good athletes at really key positions.

“We’re going to be probably forced to play some Grade 9s at that DB position and maybe even linebacker as well. We’ve just got a little gap there between Grade 9 and 11.”

This week the Crusaders are focusing on basics before they prepare for Kindersley next week, who they will host on Thursday for their season opener.

Starting at home is favourable, Yockey said. 

“With a young team like this and us looking to fill some spots, yeah, I want to keep the guys as comfortable as possible,” he said. “We’re kind of starting a little bit further back than last year with the fact that we need to get down some basic fundementals first again. And then next week it’ll be fast forward: Thursday will come quick for our first game.

“I think our schedule is favourable. If we can get a win or two under our belt early, I think it’ll be a big boost.”

Yockey also pointed out a few other standout players that will be in the lineup this year.

“Liam Navarro will be a horse on the O-line and he’ll play D-line as well, Andrew Pyle is an excellent linebacker, Zach Wells comes to us moved in from Biggar and he’s an excellent athlete,” Yockey said. “I think we’ll have some players that will really stand out during games.”

Last season, the Crusaders went 3-3 and then fell in the first round of the playoffs to Martensville.

Their opener on Thursday, Sept. 7 against Kindersley is set to kick-off at 4:30 p.m.

nathan.kanter@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: NathanKanter11