Crusaders seek second CFL title

May 17, 2008 01:14 am

— By Anvil Welch
awelch@joplinglobe.com
The Joplin Crusaders opened their 2008 season by beating the Oklahoma Outlawz 22-20.
Tonight, weeks later, the teams are prepared to clash in Tulsa for the championship of the non-pro Central Football League.
Joplin will be seeking a second CFL title in a row as well as its 24th consecutive victory.
Kickoff between the Crusaders, 10-0 this season, and Ada-based Outlawz, 7-3, is scheduled for 6 p.m. on the artificial surface of the East Tulsa Sports Complex, 12150 E. 11th St.
Outlawz owner Mike West, whose head coach is Mark Barrett, suggested on Friday that little in regard to building a scouting report could be gleaned from that first meeting at Stratford High School.
“Both teams weren’t at full speed, because of a lack of practice, or at full strength (number of players),” West said. “We have a lot of different players from that first meeting. We’ve improved quite a bit since the first game.”
West said as many as five Outlawz on each side of the ball could be new to the Crusaders.
Joplin, scoring 21 points in the fourth period, defeated the visiting Arkansas Warriors 21-6 last Saturday night to capture the Northern Division of the CFL.
The Outlawz, meanwhile, needed to score two touchdowns in the final quarter to handle the visiting Lawton-based Oklahoma Rebels 14-7 at Stratford for Southern Division honors.
Joplin defensive coordinator David Pitts — he shares the title of head coach with offensive coordinator Brenden Gubera — said the Outlawz had to gain confidence for tonight’s encounter from the earlier meeting.
“We have to play well,” Pitts said. “We need to play at the same level as we’ve done the last two weeks.
“The Outlawz (9-3 overall last season) have decent size and speed,” Pitts said. “They execute very well.”
The first-year Enid Enforcers and Kansas Cougars have claimed 6-0 and 9-0 decisions against the Outlawz.
T.R. Kanuch, a 6-foot, 250-pounder, is quarterback for the Outlawz. His 87-for-132 accuracy has produced 1,228 yards and 16 touchdowns. Kanuch, a former fullback, also has rushed for 402 yards and three touchdowns on 78 carries.
Kanuch’s leading targets are Willie Lane (18 receptions, 446 yards, 6 touchdowns), Daniel Crites (18-221-2) and Adam Merriman (16-201-3).