Crusaders charge into playoffs determined for greatness

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

Yockey, who has been the coach of the football team at John Paul II since the program started eight years ago, said while there have been some good teams over the years, this year’s rendition is amongst the very best.

Provincial Politics

Sask. Speaker says legislature not out of control

1h ago

Back at base

Canadian astronaut and Artemis II crew return to Houston

1h ago

Moving ahead

Liberal party adopts motion to restrict kids from social media

7h ago

“This is definitely one of our better teams over the last half-a-dozen years for sure,” he said. “We’re really well balanced with good, strong players at every position, and we have guys who have provided some big plays, and play a lot of minutes.”

Yockey went on to mention a few players in particular who have really been key to the team’s success this season on both sides of the ball, in Andrew Pyle and Zack Wells.

Pyle played both centre and middle-linebacker last week; meaning he was on the field for every single down.

Wells, lining up at linebacker, quarterback and offensive end, proved this season to be a tri-positional threat, a feature that makes him invaluable to the squad’s success.

The coach said the versatility and durability of the two players shows their dedication to winning and drive for the good of the team.

“Those guys are willing to do those things when called upon, no questions asked, so that just kind of tells you their commitment and sacrifice they’re willing to make to win each week,” Yockey said.

While the team’s chemistry is evident, and no surprise at this juncture of the season, one of the truly beautiful aspects of sport in general is its ability to bring people from off the field together as well, and form bonds amongst a community as a whole. Yockey considers himself fortunate to have witnessed that community take place over his time with the club, both within the school body and beyond through an outpour of support for the team only amplified by the group’s success this year.     

“The school is proud of what the team is doing and what they’re accomplishing; it’s really generating excitement,” he said. “We have lots of alumni around the community and whenever I see them, whether at the hockey rink, or the coffee shop, they’re always asking me about how the team’s doing. They tell me they’ve been hearing good things, so that’s nice too, to see that support.

Fans of the Crusaders can catch game one of the playoffs against the Spartans Thursday, Oct. 18 at 4 p.m.

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1