(John Paul II Collegiate/Facebook)

By Ryan Lambert

John Paul II Football

John Paul II Football gears up to host Delisle to kick off the playoffs

Oct 9, 2025 | 5:08 PM

The John Paul II Crusaders are set to host their first playoff game since 2018 on Oct. 18 against the Delisle Rebels. The Crusaders finished their regular season with a 4-1 record, wrapping up the campaign with an 85-34 win against Meadow Lake.

After losing in the season opener against Humboldt in early September, the Crusaders went undefeated for the rest of the season to finish 4-1.

They played Delisle once this season, when they won 37-23 on the road. Not only were they able to win the away game, but it was the Crusaders first victory over Delisle in program history.

Like much of the season, Nate Fransoo and Antonio Dudas led the way on offense as talked about by Crusaders head coach Nick Strain.

“They were huge for us on offense. Tony scored three touchdowns in that game running the ball, and Nate was running and throwing amazingly as always with him,” said Strain.

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The Crusaders also had strong plays from Cage Koch and Ryder Kozlowski on offense in that game, as well as John Laudinez and Carson Cole on defense who “came up with some really big stops against a tough running Delisle team,” according to Strain.

Strain understands that there’s no guarantee in any game, and that the Crusaders regular season game against Delisle could very well have gone the other way. “There were three or four plays that could have gone either way. If Delisle converts a couple, we miss a few things and that’s a totally different game…the two score game, it was probably (one or two plays) that made the difference, so the boys know they’re going to have to focus for this game. They’re not a weak team by any stretch”

The team looks to work on their discipline across all facets of the game heading into the playoffs. “The penalty aspect and just making sure everyone knows what their job is and doing their job throughout the week and throughout the game. So not trying to cover for other people. Just focus on doing their one job. If everyone does their job, we should be set up to win,” said the Crusaders head coach.

As this is the Crusaders’ first home game in seven years, Strain is hoping for a lot of people at the game. “I’d love to see a great North Battleford crowd to come support football in the Battlefords. It’s an exciting time when we can have people from both schools, people from the whole community out supporting this program.”

The game will kick off at 1 pm on Oct. 18 at John Paul II Collegiate in North Battleford.