Carpenter Spartans expect ‘more competitive’ football season

The Spartans will have a few more Grade 12 players this season, but Ethier said the bulk of the roster remains young and developing.

“We expect them to be a little bit more competitive than they were last year.”

Carpenter’s football program returned in 2025 following a six-year absence, leaving many players to experience their first high school football season.

“Last year at this time there was a lot of just unknowns in terms of the kids that never been through a football season before, so they really had no expectations,” he said.

“But now they can jump in, start learning the fundamentals right now.”

While the experience level has changed, Carpenter’s approach to the game largely hasn’t.

Ethier wants the offence to play at a high tempo and establish the running game to open opportunities elsewhere. On defence, the Spartans want to play aggressively, force turnovers and address one of their biggest shortcomings from last season – tackling.

“We weren’t that team last year in terms of tackling, but this year that’s number one priority,” Ethier said.

It is an area the Spartans were already trying to address late last season. After an 80-0 loss to John Paul II Collegiate in September, Ethier pointed to missed tackles as something requiring more work in practice.

John Paul II is also the opponent Ethier is most looking forward to facing this season, with the proximity between the schools helping fuel what he considers a rivalry.

The Spartans travel to North Battleford to face the Crusaders on Sept. 10 before hosting them in Meadow Lake on Oct. 1.

“They’re going to be another good team again this year,” Ethier said.

Last season’s lopsided meeting has added another layer to the matchup.

“Although we feel it’s a rivalry, maybe they don’t feel it’s a rivalry because in order for them to be a rivalry, things need to be competitive,” Ethier said.

For Ethier, however, becoming more competitive isn’t tied to a specific number of wins.

“Come out and get better every day,” he said. “As long as we do that, the scoreboard will take care of itself.”

“Our group of kids are kids that don’t shy away from work,” he said.

The first opportunity to see where that work has taken the Spartans comes before conference play begins.

Carpenter opens its season against the Bonnyville Voyageurs at 1 p.m. Aug. 29 at Lion’s Park Field in Meadow Lake. The non-conference exhibition will be followed by the Spartans’ conference opener against the Humboldt Mohawks on Sept. 4.

Ethier said the Spartans know little about the Alberta team heading into the exhibition and that is part of what makes the matchup useful.

“We get to see what we’re really made of when you don’t get a chance to game plan,” he said.

Every Spartan is expected to get an opportunity to play as the coaching staff evaluates its offensive and defensive systems and determines where players fit ahead of conference play.

“That game will see how our offense and defensive scheme is working as well as it’ll give us a chance to really see what bodies should be playing what positions,” Ethier said.

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Kenneth.Cheung@pattisonmedia.com

by Kenneth Cheung

Carpenter Spartans expect ‘more competitive’ football season

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