Breadcrumb Trail Links
Football
“What the boys did there is phenomenal. With how many points we gave up all year, our guys played solid."
Published Nov 08, 2025 • Last updated 9 minutes ago • 3 minute read
Holy Cross Crusaders 6A football
The Holy Cross Crusaders defeated Regina Miller Marauders 21-16 in the 6A high school provincial football championship at SMF Field on November 7, 2025. Photo by Don Rice.
Article content
After losing their 10 previous provincial football championship games, the Holy Cross Crusaders were looking to create a different result on Friday.
Advertisement 2
Toronto Sun
THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.
Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.
Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.
Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.
Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.
SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.
Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.
Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.
Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.
Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.
REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
Access articles from across Canada with one account.
Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.
Enjoy additional articles per month.
Get email updates from your favourite authors.
THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
Access articles from across Canada with one account
Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments
Enjoy additional articles per month
Get email updates from your favourite authors
Article content
They found it with a hard fought 21-16 victory over Regina Miller Marauders on a chilly evening that dipped to minus-10 at Gordie Howe Sports Complex in Saskatoon.
Article content
Article content
“It’s unbelievable,” said Crusader head coach Tom Schnitzler.
“The boys have worked so extremely hard. We have some guys that have been two or three years on the team. Our veterans were outstanding. They carried the team all year and they came up big today and I couldn’t be more happy for them.”
The Crusaders lost in the provincial championship game in 2005 and for six straight years from 2011 to 2016 as well as in 2019, 2021 and 2023. Former head coach Scott Hundseth was at the helm for their nine most recent tough-luck losses, including in 2021 and 2023 against Miller. It seemed fitting that he was on the sidelines for this one as well.
opening envelope
Your Midday Sun
Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond.
By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.
Thanks for signing up!
A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.
The next issue of Your Midday Sun will soon be in your inbox.
We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again
Article content
Advertisement 3
Article content
“I guess it feels like the monkey is off the back a little bit,” said Schnitzler.
“I feel for Scott Hundseth all those years, right in the final — he had a hell of a team and just came up a little short. This year, this one’s for him. He ran the defence super well and those guys played well today.”
When asked his own feelings, assistant coach Hundseth repeated himself twice, “It’s numb. It’s numb!”
“Obviously everyone is well aware of what’s gone on,” Hundseth continued. “(We had) heart-breakers, especially against Miller and LeBoldus. Our boys played hard today and they deserve it.”
The Crusaders came out on top of a hard-fought defensive struggle this year that never saw either offence get on track until late in the game. Holy Cross lead 7-3 at halftime on an eight-yard touchdown run by Josh Ayur and a 20-yard field goal for Miller’s Julian Brown. The first half saw the Crusaders put up only 99 yards of net offence while holding Miller to just 46.
Advertisement 4
Article content
Holy Cross finally extended their lead to 14-3 late in the third quarter on a Jacon Tuck one-yard-run. He added his second major early in the fourth on a 25-yard pass from Scotty Broker that seemed to put the Crusaders in complete control at 21-3. But a one-yard-pass from Corbyn Thompson to Noah Finkeldey made it 21-10. After recovering an onside kick, the Marauders inched even closer on a 32-yard score on another pass to Ben Kostiuk with less than two minutes to play. But the Crusaders recovered a second onside kick attempt and were able to drain the rest of the clock.
“It was just a battle,” said Miller head coach Jason Duczek.
“Both teams were struggling to find what things could work on offence. It was a little bit of back-and-forth and a turnover here, a turnover there. It was (tough) finding that momentum that could carry you and they seemed to catch that faster than we could. And then we got it rolling here and just ran out of time.”
Advertisement 5
Article content
Broker finished by going 10-of-14 for 134 yards passing with Alex Fairbairn being the Crusadrs’ leading receiver with four catches for 63 yards.
Ayur rushed 12 times for 87 yards with Traven Wiggins picking up 66 yards on the ground on nine carries. For Miller, Thompson was 13-of-20 passing for 133 yards, with 118 of those coming in the second half. Marcus Adams rushed the ball 17 times for just 46 yards to lead Miller. Finkeldey led their receiving corp with five catches for 47 yards.
The win gives the Crusaders their seventh provincial championship, but first since 1995. They complete a perfect 9-0 season where they did not surrender a single point in six of their nine games played, including their first five games. They outscored all opponents 320 to 46.
Advertisement 6
Article content
“What the boys did there is phenomenal,” said Hundseth. “With how many points we gave up all year, our guys played solid. They’re just great kids and they’ve been trying hard for this for a long time. It finally came true for them so I’m proud of them.”
OVERTIME: Holy Cross previously won provincials in 1980 and 1981, 1985 and 1986 and 1994 and 1995. Miller has won provincial titles in 1971 and 2018 as well as from 2021 to 2023.
Read More
[Members of the Clavet Cougar watch the final moments of their Saskatchewan 2A high school 6-a-side football game against the rival Watrous Wildcats on Thursday, Oct. 9 in Clavet. The Cougars hung on to win 36-32. Both teams have advanced to Saskatchewan High School Athletic Association 2A provincial semifinal action Nov. 2, 2025. LIAM RICHARDS/Saskatoon StarPhoenix/Postmedia Network
Six-a-side football in small-town Saskatchewan: 'Half the players, twice the athletes'](https://thestarphoenix.com/feature/six-a-side-football-in-small-town-saskatchewan-half-the-players-twice-the-athletes)
2. [A CFL Football. Jim Wells, Postmedia.
Saskatoon St. Joseph claims Saskatchewan provincial 6A football championship](https://thestarphoenix.com/sports/local-sports/high-school/saskatoon-st-joseph-claims-saskatchewan-provincial-6a-football-championship)
drice@postmedia.com
Article content
Share this article in your social network
Comments