"We have been talking for about three-weeks now - our goal wasn't just to compete in games any longer it was to take a victory," said John Paul II Crusaders football coach Bruce Yockey.
The Crusaders did take a victory on their final home game of the season in a 24-14 win over the Meadow Lake Spartans.
What's next for the Crusaders?
Don't look now, but according to Yockey a win in their final game of the regular season puts them in the top four in the Northwest 9-Man Football League and in the playoffs.
Thursday at Beaver Lions Stadium, the Crusaders fell behind early to the Spartans trailing 8-0 after the first quarter and 14-0 at half time.
Meadow Lake running backs Ronnie Gortezki and Blaik Esau both scored touchdowns in the first quarter, one on a rushing play the other on a pass completion by quarterback Chase Paylor.
The Crusaders' offence failed to get any momentum in the first half earning just two first downs in the first 24 minutes, but the defenceman held the game close and keep the Crusaders within striking distance in the second half.
"We felt if we could keep our offence in there they would eventually get it going and they did and we won," said defensive captain and linebacker Dayne Iverson.
The Crusaders defence was strong all game, but the turning point came on a special teams play when Iverson blocked a punt early in the third quarter and set up the Crusaders' offence with the ball inside the Meadow Lake five-yard line.
Nathan Eckel marched the offence onto the field and capitalized on the great field position. He hit Mitchell Bear for the touchdown and the two-point convert was good as well.
The Crusaders' defence continued to hold the Spartans and Eckel hit Calvin Perepuljuk for two touchdowns including one stretching nearly 70 yards.
The Crusaders dominated the second and half and capped off the game with an Iverson interception allowing the offence to run out the clock and earn their first win.
"It feels great - it was a tough start, but we battled and have just been gaining confidence from the start (of the season) and it is good to get a win against a good team," said Iverson.
As the offence continues to improve it is the defence that has helped the Crusaders build some confidence and they will look to continue that in the final regular season game in Martensville.
"They (defence) are outstanding. They had pressure on the quarterback and our linebackers did a great job stopping the run," said Yockey. "We just improved in a lot of technical areas where we are starting to be able to make plays now."
The Crusaders get some redemption, as they lost to Meadow Lake 56-7 in Meadow Lake just two weeks earlier. John Paul II is 1-5-1 and play in Martensville Friday. A win would push them past Unity and Martensville in the standings and in the playoffs in their first season.
"They are hungry to get victories now," said Yockey who felt his team deserved a better fate a week earlier against Unity where they played to a 10-10 tie.
