(submitted/Coleton Ethier)

By Kenneth Cheung

2025 REGULAR SEASON

‘They never quit’: Carpenter High’s Spartans fall 49-6 to Kindersley Kobras in home opener

Sep 8, 2025 | 10:53 AM

The helmets were gleaming under the sunlight at Lion Park on Sept. 5, the crowd at over 150, and for the first time in six years, Carpenter High’s Spartans charged onto the football field.

It wasn’t the dream start on the scoreboard. Kindersley Kobras left with a 49–6 victory. But for head coach Coleton Ethier, the real win was in seeing a new team take its first steps.

“Our athletes played hard. It wasn’t the results we were hoping for, but we’re proud of how the kids competed throughout the entire game,” Ethier said.

There were lessons, too — especially in the details that only live action can expose. Substitutions were ragged at first, but smoother by the second half.

“We expected that with the first time our athletes ever came into a football game,” he said. “But we saw how much they improved even just with simple things like substitutions throughout the game.”

Grey Cup!!!

Everything you wanted and more

Nov 21, 2025

Ferland earns Grey Cup ring

'A wonderful human being': High school coach thrilled Logan Ferland is a Grey Cup champion

Nov 17, 2025

100 YEARS LATER

Indigenous artifacts from Vatican returning to Canada as gift from Pope Leo

Nov 15, 2025

Kindersley Kobras, left, and Meadow Lake Spartans. (submitted/Coleton Ethier)

Ethier added the debut was “a little bit eye-opening for the athletes” and that they’ll step onto the field next time “a little bit more relaxed going forward.”

The highlight of the night came late, when the defence forced a fumble and the offence answered with a long touchdown run — proof, Ethier said, that the effort never wavered.

“You could definitely tell nerves were flying right off the start of the game. But as the game went on, they started to relax into it and just have fun,” he said.

“I really appreciated that they never quit regardless of what the scoreboard showed. It was all effort, all the time.”

Ethier also reserved praise for the stands.

“We had a huge crowd turnout for the game and that was very good to see. And the huge crowd stuck it through the entire game,” he noted.

“So, thank you, community of Meadow Lake.”

This week on Thursday, Sept. 11, the Spartans will head south for a rivalry clash against John Paul II Collegiate Crusaders in North Battleford. The game is set to start at 4:30 p.m. at the high school.

Tackling drills will be front and centre at practice, the next step in building a program Ethier said is already learning fast.

—

Kenneth.Cheung@pattisonmedia.com