Crusaders mistakes costly as they fall to Spartans

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Bluesky
• Share on X
• Copy Link

However, JP was without linebacker Andrew Pyle, who is out with a concussion. Quarterback Brady Holhoyi had also tweaked his ankle and going into the week wasn’t guaranteed to play.

NURSE OF THE MONTH

Battlefords campaign shines spotlight on nurses making a difference

9h ago

Spring Melt

Flood ravaged RMs continue calls for supports and resources

9h ago

municipal matters

Lloydminster tops $3B in retail spending in 2025, mayor says

10h ago

Holhoyi did end up playing on Thursday, and even began a second-half comeback that looked promising. The Crusaders were down 22-14 at half and scored two touchdowns to get a 28-22 lead. But that lead vanished quickly and it was clear in the end the Crusaders would not be coming back this time.

“Just too many mistakes at crucial times,” Crusaders head coach Bruce Yockey said. “Realistically, we could have been up maybe two or three touchdowns early. Three dropped balls, [and] a fumble hurt. We just didn’t allow ourselves to really get any momentum it seemed. Every time we got something to get rolling along, we’d do something to shoot ourselves in the foot.”

“I think mainly just because a lot of young kids [are] on the field. They’re learning so they’re going to make some mistakes. It’s like a roller coaster, up and down, so this one was down a little bit. But a good turn around in the second half.”

Crusaders running back Decklan Wychopen had to leave the game due to injury on Thursday, and in his place, Leo Senger fit right in.

“[Senger] is a little more north-south [versus Wychopen],” Yockey said. “He’s more like a horse and he can really find the gaps and he goes hard. [Wychopen] is like a jitterbug, back and forth. So they compliment each other well. [Senger] came in and did an exceptional job. He ran the ball really, really well.”

Yockey added the Pyle injury has had a huge impact and you could see it on Thursday.

“[Pyle] is in just about every tackle on defence,” Yockey said. “But you can’t use that as an excuse… We just plain and simple didn’t quite have enough today to get it done.”

The Crusaders face Delisle next on the road, while the Spartans will host Martensville. Both games on are on Oct. 5.

“They’re always well-coached,” Yockey said of Delisle. “They execute real well. They seem a little smaller than usual, but they’re fast. They know how to run every single play. All nine guys know the exact job they’re supposed to do.”

nathan.kanter@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @NathanKanter11