Miller Marauders aiming for third straight provincial title

The Miller Marauders are chasing a trifecta of provincial titles.

Regina’s Miller Comprehensive Catholic High School has won the past two 6A Saskatchewan High Schools Athletic Association provincial football championships, defeating Saskatoon’s Holy Cross Crusaders 28-24 in 2021 and the Saskatoon St. Joseph Guardians 34-20 last season.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity because it’s not only you’re a winning team but you’re repeatedly a winning team and not many people accomplish that,” said Grade 12 athlete Carlos McArthur, who plays on the offensive and defensive lines for Miller.

“We just found out that what we did (winning) city’s three years in a row was a record (for Miller) and so now we’re going for (the school’s) provincial record as well.”

The Marauders are to take on Holy Cross at Saskatoon Minor Football Field at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

McArthur has been a member of the Marauders since he was in Grade 10, meaning he is one of the players who has won the provincial title in every year of his high school football career.

“Even (back in Grade 10) it looked good because we were competing with our Grade 12s,” McArthur said. “You could tell at that moment it was going to be a special group because we were already clicking at that point.

“We got into a groove really early.”

Running back Jack MacLeod was also on the Miller team that won the title in 2021 and again the following season.

“In Grade 10, we started it off with a provincial win in Saskatoon also against Holy Cross. We’re looking to repeat and end the same way we started,” MacLeod said.

The Regina school qualified for its third trip with a 27-20 triple overtime win over the LeBoldus Golden Suns in the Regina Intercollegiate Football League final.

“In 28 years of coaching high school football, that was the first time I’ve actually been in an overtime game and been a part of that,” said Marauders head coach Jason Duczek, who is in his second season coaching at Miller. “I just felt we were prepared and thank goodness we were able to turn it up another notch.”

“That was a tough game,” McArthur added. “That game, I played 146 snaps. It was not easy but I couldn’t ask for a better way to end my high school career in Regina.”

So after another season of hard work and long practices, Miller will get another shot at provincial gold.

“Not every kid can get that,” Duczek said. “Lots of kids put a lot of time and a lot of work into football. We’re just fortunate that we’ve had the opportunity to be able to put that all together and become a complete team.”

For the graduating players like McArthur, Saturday’s game presents one more chance to go out and represent his high school on the gridiron.

“I don’t even know how to put it into words. It’s sad – I don’t want it to end,” McArthur said. “High school is different; it’s different ball and a different energy. I love these guys out on the field.”