St. Paul’s Crusaders crowned WHSFL champions

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This article was published 07/12/2022 (1344 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The St. Paul’s Crusaders varsity boys football team have been crowned Division 1 champions of the Winnipeg High School Football League.

The Crusaders defeated the Dakota Lancers 15-11 in the Nov.12 championship game at IG Field. It’s the Crusaders’ first Division 1 title since 2019, when they had extended a run of three championships in four years.

“One of our strengths that we built throughout the season was coming together as a team,” said Grade 12 defensive end and offensive tackle Izzy Opanubi. “Without that, we couldn’t have gotten the job done, so I think that was the biggest thing that helped us.”

Leading up to the championship game, the Crusaders defeated the Oak Park Raiders 22-13 on Nov. 4. Prior to that, they lost to the Dakota Lancers 29-19 on Oct. 27.

Despite a few losses, the team had an “all-around good season,” Opanubi said. St. Paul’s allowed only 10 points per game during the regular season while their championship game rivals, Dakota, weren’t far behind, allowing just 12.6 per game.

“Nobody gave up during that championship game,” Opanubi added. “We went in there and brought our all.”

Grade 12 offensive tackle player Kiernan MacDonald called the Crusaders’ practices “high energy.” He said the team meshed well together.

The championship game brought the province’s top two programs together. Both teams entered the game with 8-1 records.

“Getting to the championship was one of our big goals after not having the best season last year,” MacDonald added. “We were really looking to improve and make it to the championship.”

After having time off the field during their junior varsity year, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the team was determined to be successful.

“It was good to be back out there, and the group gelled together pretty quickly, which really helped us play good together as a team, even without that year,” MacDonald said.

Crusaders coach Stacey Dainard credited the team’s focus and determination for their success this year.

“The COVID year set us back, like it set other programs back,” Dainard said. “These guys, especially the Grade 12 players, were focused during the off-season and worked hard to make sure they were in a good position to be successful. These guys are younger brothers who played in the 2019 championship, so there’s a responsibility to live up to past history, which can be a bit of a burden but also a push to go out and do your best.”

The Crusaders’ championship win was preceded by the WHSFL junior varsity title game between Oak Park High School and Dakota Collegiate, which Oak Park won 35-13.

For more information, visit www.whsfl.ca