Crusaders running back Ryder Kozlowski runs past defenders with the football (photo courtesy/ Shelly Fransoo)

By Ryan Lambert

High School Football

John Paul II thumps Carpenter High School in home opener

Sep 12, 2025 | 3:28 PM

From the opening kickoff to the final whistle, the John Paul II Collegiate Crusaders had complete control against the Carpenter High School Spartans on Thursday.

The Crusaders dominated their opponents from Meadow Lake, running away with an 80-0 victory. The win improves their record to 1-1 after a 43-14 loss to Humboldt last week.

This is Carpenter High School’s first time in six years having a football program.

While the score was lopsided, Crusaders head coach Nick Strain was happy to see the majority of his players get some time on the field.

“As the game kinda started going on, we were able to get some of our younger kids touches and get them involved in the game, which was awesome to see.”

Grey Cup!!!

Everything you wanted and more

Nov 21, 2025

Ferland earns Grey Cup ring

'A wonderful human being': High school coach thrilled Logan Ferland is a Grey Cup champion

Nov 17, 2025

MUNICIPAL MATTERS

North Battleford funds early work to launch $80.2M arena and event centre fundraising campaign

Nov 17, 2025

Strain added that the team being able to get so many players on the field opened an opportunity for a great family moment on the offensive side of the ball.

“We had a Grade 8, Nate Koch, get his first touchdown thrown from his brother, Cage Koch, who came in in relief. So it was kind of a cool experience seeing some brothers play catch out there.”

Strain described the Crusaders as having a “very experienced offence with a lot of Grade 12’s who have been starters on our team for the last three years.” The offence was led by the likes of quarterback Nate Fransoo and running back Antonio Dudas, who combined for 28 points. Ryder Kozlowski also made his mark, scoring three touchdowns himself.

The defence is more inexperienced than the offence, but Strain said that a game like this was an encouraging one for his players.

“That was kind of a nice thing. Just after against Humboldt, like we didn’t play to what the score said was in Humboldt, it was just little mental mistakes that caused big plays for them that went for touchdowns. So it was nice for them to get the confidence that they can make the tackle, that they can be in the right spot. Like we worked with them hard this week. We’ve got a great coaching staff that teaches the game very well, and they worked on all those little things we missed last week.”

The Crusaders coach said the game was also a good opportunity to tighten things up on the defensive side where there are players with less experience.

While this was a dominating win for the team, Strain wants to make sure that they don’t get too high on the win.

“It was a real big confidence boost for them, obviously. But that’s going to be something we as a coaching staff are going to have to try to keep in check. Like we said, Meadow’s a first-year team, so they’re going to have some learning to do on the way. We got a week off here where we get to work with them all week in practice, and then our next opponent is Kindersley, they’re a little more experienced, but they’re still a fairly new team. So it’ll be nice to get them back into the swing of things against an opponent who’s played some games.”

John Paul II is back at home for their next game vs Kindersley on Thursday, Sept. 25. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m.

—

ryan.lambert@pattisonmedia.com