Holy Cross Crusaders

Last Season: 1-4
Head Coach: Ken Buchan

Top Players last year:

QB Kalen Plamondon
RB Matt Williamson
RB Jordan Padrinao
WR Stephen Pezzente
WR/S Ian Finlayson
LB Peter Klaponski
OL Scott Murchison
G Tory Davis

Key JV players:

QB Spencer Betts
WR Geoff Whiteley
WR Billy Greene
LB Mike McKenna

Schedule:

Exhibition
Fri, Sep. 9 Holy Cross Crusaders vs Lynden, Wash USA Washington 7:00P
Sat, Sep. 17 STMC Knights vs Holy Cross Crusaders Holy Cross Surrey 1:30P
Fri, Sep. 23 Holy Cross Crusaders vs Notre Dame Jugglers Burnaby Lakes Burnaby Lakes 7:30P

Regular
Sat, Oct. 1 South Delta Sun Devils vs Holy Cross Crusaders Holy Cross Surrey 1:30P
Fri, Oct. 7 Holy Cross Crusaders vs WJ Mouat Hawks Rotary Stadium Abbotsford 7:30P
Sat, Oct. 15 North Delta Huskies vs Holy Cross Crusaders Holy Cross Surrey 1:30P
Sat, Oct. 22 New West Hyacks vs Holy Cross Crusaders Holy Cross Surrey 1:30P
Sat, Oct. 29 Holy Cross Crusaders vs Rick Hansen Hurricanes Rick Hansen Abbotsford 1:30P


2 things made the difference between making the playoffs and watching them for the Holy Cross Crusader's 04/05 season, 2nd half letdowns and Defensive breakdowns. Without establishing a run game, the pass happy offense relied too much on the big play. The offense couldn't generate enough big plays for the many big plays the defense gave up. Big losses vs South Delta, Rick Hansen, and WJ Mouat did little to build confidence. But the biggest loss was vs North Delta, a team they could've beat. Offensively QB Kalen Plamondon had a good year in the air. Plamondon's favorite targets were WRs Stephen Pezzente and Ian Finlayson. Defensively, Safety Ian Finlayson and LB Peter Klaponski led the team in tackles. Overall, the Cruasader's would prefer to forget the 04/05 season and move on.

Can the Crusaders improve on the 1-4 04/05 season?? Not likely. Defense was the achilles heel last year. That begs the question of how the defense will fare this season. The defense returns LB Peter Klaponski and several rookies from last year's JV squad including LB Mike McKenna to it's Defensive core. Despite that, there are no significant additions to this defense that would give anyone the impression that they've improved. The offense sees QB Plamondon, WRs Pezzente and Finlayson graduating. Which means that last year's Gr 9 JV QB Spencer Betts most likely plays up this year. With no ground attack, and no big play threat, the offensive outlook looks as bleak as the defense.

Despite going to the JV Championship 2 years ago, this Crusader team has gone nowhere in the Varsity level and JV for that matter. Part of that may have to do with the strong competition in the East division in Rick Hansen and WJ Mouat. But the Crusader JV team that went to the 03/04 finals was led by QB Denny Dumas. And it just so happens that Dumas transferred to STM and took their JV team all the way in 04/05. Think about it, did the Championship follow the team or the player??. Check that, if you look deeper there are only a few players from that 03/04 JV team that are still playing for the Crusaders today. We can play what ifs all day... what if Dumas stays, what if the Crusaders win JV in 04/05. But the bottom line is that they didn't.


Prognosis: 0-5 (I hope I'm wrong, but not likely)
Key Games: Week 6, HC vs ND; Week 7 NW vs HC (both are the only winable games on the sched)
Top Offensive Players: QB Spencer Betts, RB Jordan Padrinao
Top Defensive Players: LB Peter Klaponski, LB Mike McKenna