LIVONIA, Mich. - For the first time since November of 2022, the Madonna University Football Team took the field last Saturday in front of Crusader Nation for their 2023 Spring Game, hosted at Livonia Franklin High School. 

"It felt great having everyone here to watch us," said defensive end and team captain Will Fennema. "We love the added pressure it puts on us to perform at our best."

"It was a great atmosphere and a great turnout," added senior quarterback Josh DePaulis. "It's so nice to see so many people in the community coming out to support us."

The Crusaders began the day by co-hosting a youth camp with the Madonna Cheer Team for young kids in the community. The players led a series of stations for the kids to experience a day in the life of a Madonna football player, including tackling bags, running routes, and most importantly scoring touchdowns. The camp concluded with a performance from the Madonna Cheer Team, accompanied by the kids attending their youth camp.

"One of the most important principles to our team and university is to always pay it forward and give back to our community however we can," said Madonna Football's third-year head coach, Herb Haygood.

Following the conclusion of their youth camp, the Crusader Football Team suited up to kick off their intersquad scrimmage. The energy was there as everyone was hyped up and itching to get back on the field and compete.

"There's nothing like the first time putting the pads back on and competing," said DePaulis. "We've been waiting for this day all spring. We're ready to ball out and show everyone what we've been working on since the fall."

The offense came out firing off the bat, driving down the field and scoring a touchdown in only four plays. That first score came on the ground from quarterback Arthur Brantley IV. On the next drive, Brantley kept the offense rolling with a passing touchdown to wide receiver Xavier Ricks. 

The Crusader offense continued to roll throughout the first half of the scrimmage. However, their defense stepped up in the second half, led by Fennema, their captain. Displaying the improvements they've made this offseason, they made some pivotal stops during the latter half of play. On one of the games' last plays, Fennema forced a crucial fumble to end the game on a high note for the defense. 

"The offense came out really strong and played great at first, but that really forced us to step up in the second half," said Fennema after the game. "We got better throughout the game and ended up finishing strong."

Fennema hopes to carry over this energy into the 2023 season this fall, and keep dominating the way he did both today and during his freshman campaign in 2022. He is setting the bar high for both himself and his teammates.

"My goal this year is to lead all the NAIA in sacks and be named first-team All-American," he stated. "As a team, we really want that first win in Week One and to end the season above five-hundred."

Entering into their third year as a program, all the pieces are finally falling into place for the Crusaders. The talent and chemistry are there, which they displayed throughout their incredibly competitive spring game.

"Our team has gotten a lot closer. One of the goals we had this offseason was getting more people invested in what we're trying to do. Now we have a team that really cares about each other and what we are trying to accomplish," said Coach Haygood. "We were able to showcase what we wanted to showcase today and came out of the spring season healthy. Now we need to focus on getting ready for summer, continuing to get stronger and faster, and most importantly, finishing strong in the classroom."

The Crusaders' 2023 season will not be without its fair share of challenges. They are slated to play some of the top teams in NAIA from across the country, including Indiana Wesleyan, Marian, and Saint Xavier. 

"We are focused on working to compete in every game and improve each week," Coach Haygood told us. "This summer we have to get our newcomers added into our culture, and continue to work towards getting that first win."

The Crusaders will kick off their 2023 season at home against Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) on September 2nd, 2023.

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