NickNaumoff

The injury-stricken Crusaders (white) head to Wichita to take on the Buffaloes in their first ever meeting in this KCAA conference showdown. St. Mary's would not lose to Sunrise Christian until 2009. As of 2019 the Crusaders are 14-5 all time against the Buffaloes.

The Kansas Christian Athletic Association (KCAA) championship game features the Sunrise Christian Buffaloes (white) against the St. Mary's Academy Crusaders (blue). The Crusaders finished the season undefeated in conference play and won the championship in just the second year of the conference's existence. This win paved the way for 4 consecutive KCAA championships from 2003 - 2006. As of 2019, the Crusaders are 11-7 all time in KCAA championship games.

The Crusaders (white) hit the road to take on the Word of Life Fire (black/red) in another classic conference showdown. Word of Life's high-powered offense would break 3 Kansas state records in week 10 of the same season (2003) against St. John's Military Academy. These records still haven't been broken as of 2019. WR Michael Lewis holds the all-time record for receiving yards in a single game with 537. QB Robby Rotola holds the all-time record for 643 passing yards in a single game. This is also an all-time state record. (Source: http://kansasfootballhistory.com/records.cfm) How would the Crusaders handle this high-powered offense?

The 2003 season kicks off with a KCAA conference home opener against the Cair Paravel Lions (white). As of 2019, the Crusaders are 23-6 all time against the Lions.

The St. Mary's Academy Crusaders traveled to Kansas City to participate in a four team preseason scrimmage before the start of the 2003 season. The first two teams are unknown, but the last is Olathe Christian. This was the first year they dropped out of the KCAA conference and did not play the Crusaders that season.

Notable awards: Team's Most Valuable Player 1st Team All-Conference (KCAA) - Offense 1st Team All-Conference (KCAA) - Defense

A collection of highlights and involved plays of Z, Nick and Erf from the Crusaders' 2002 season.

Week 3 of the regular season sees a conference showdown as Word of Life (black/red) goes on the road to take on the St. Mary's Academy Crusaders (white). These two teams would later meet in the first round of the KCAA playoffs, where the Crusaders would win 62-34.

Week 2 sees the Hanover Wildcats (white) come to town to take on the St. Mary's Academy Crusaders (blue). In week 1, Hanover lost to Highland 44-40. The Crusaders would go on to beat Highland 40-24 in week 5.

The first game of the 2002 season begins on the road in Topeka as the St. Mary's Academy Crusaders (white) take on the Cair Paravel Lions (blue), marking the opening game of KCAA conference play. The first ever meeting between these two teams took place a year prior in 2001, with the Crusaders narrowly winning 56-54. What would happen this time around?

Axtell (white) comes to St. Marys to take on the Crusaders (blue) during the 2002 regular season. Since 1988, St. Mary's was just 1-13 against Axtell. Something needed to change...

Notable awards: Team's Defensive Most Valuable Player 1st Team All-Conference (KCAA) - Defense

Word of Life (black/red) had beaten St. Mary's (white) 14-6 in week 3 of the regular season, and now it was time for the rematch. What better setting than a 1st round KCAA playoff game in the freezing sleet?

"Quite simply, the Eagles have treated state titles like some people treat Lays potato chips. Once they get one, they're ready to have another. And another. And another. ... Midway was so dominating last year that in many games the reserves were hitting the field in the second quarter." (The Capital-Journal | Friday, August 31, 2001) Since 1994, St. Mary's (white) was only 1-5 against Midway Denton (red). Midway Denton was a dynasty in the 80's, and in 2000 they were state champions. Then we showed up...