By: Mike Still (@mikestill94)
Feature photo: Sophomore linebacker Nic Pereira lays down the boom during the U16 Western Challenge. Photo by hudl.com
Over the next month, manitobafootballfeed will be previewing each of the 31 varsity teams battling for supremacy in the Winnipeg High School Football League, which kicks off its regular season on Wednesday, Sept. 5. Below is a breakdown of the St. Paul’s Crusaders 1.
Team: St. Paul’s Crusaders 1
Head Coach: Stacy Dainard, 17th year
Conference/Division: Potter Conference, Division 1
2017 Regular Season Record: 7-0
2017 Playoff Record: 3-0 (Won the ANAVETS Bowl)
As is the case every year at St. Paul’s, the team graduated a large number of their roster from the previous year — 31 players to be exact. However, that hasn’t been an issue in the past for head coach Stacy Dainard and company, as the Crusaders have gone undefeated over the last two years en route to back-to-back ANAVETS Bowl titles.
Offence
Offensively, St. Paul’s 1 returns seven players who either started or saw game action in 2017. Dainard expects his team to be “well-balanced in its attack while hopefully passing and running the ball effectively.”
Leading the way is senior quarterback Brody Lawson, who was the game MVP in last year’s ANAVETS Bowl. He also threw for 1,083 yards last season with 10 majors and just two interceptions.
Another key returner is #CFC100 (2020) junior running back Te Jessie, who had four rushing touchdowns as a sophomore. He was also one of the quarterbacks for Team Manitoba at this year’s Canada Cup, displaying his versatility as both a ball-carrier and passer.
At the receiver position, Dainard will be looking for veteran receivers Tristen Hutter and Thane Tomlinson to step up, with top performers Michael O’Shea and Noah Dornn both off to U SPORTS programs (Guelph and Manitoba, respectively). Hutter had 112 yards and a touchdown last season, while Tomlinson was primarily used on screen passes in order to get the shifty receiver/returner in space.
The offensive line will be anchored by senior guard/centre Matteo Vaccaro, who was a member of Team Manitoba’s U18 roster this summer and has been a part of the Crusader’s varsity team since grade 10.
Defence
Only two starters from last year’s championship team will be back in 2018.
“The initial task will be finding the right spot for everyone and then getting everyone on the same page,” Dainard said. “After that we expect the defense to be aggressive and play with good team quickness.”
Junior Nathan Carabatsakis, who, along with Jessie, is ranked in the 2020 #CFC100, will be relied upon to have another strong season. He already has U SPORTS size at six-foot-four, 220 pounds, and was seventh in the league last year in tackles.
Seniors Vince DeRosa (defensive back/kicker) and Dylan Duha (defensive lineman) will be looked upon to provide leadership in their respective positions as well.
Two key sophomores to pay attention to are linebacker Nic Pereira and defensive back Trae Tomlinson. The former wreaked havoc at the U16 Western Challenge, including a bone-jarring hit on a blitz against one of Alberta’s running backs in the gold medal game. The latter is currently the second ranked player in all of Canada for the #CFC100 class of 2021, and is an early contender for Rookie of the Year. He’s also a solid choice as a return specialist for the Crusaders, as he’s one of the fastest sprinters in the province.
Short and long-term goals
With so many new faces this season, Dainard’s short term goals have to do with “building chemistry and getting to know one another while finding the best position for all players.” Long term, the team hopes to “get better each and every day while looking to qualify in the top eight of Division 1.”