Sunday, Sep. 11, 2011

Crusaders stomp Ravens

Gibbons Ben Grazen scored 3 TD's, with a 13-yarder on first play of 4th quarter.

Cardinal Gibbons used a defensive stop and a quick score late in the second quarter to take complete control and roll to a 49-13 non-conference home football win Friday night over Ravenscroft.

The Ravens trailed 14-7 late in the half and a Matt McDowell fumble recovery gave his team possession on the Crusaders' 31-yard line. The Ravenscroft offense, which had trouble with the Gibbons defensive front all game, turned the ball over on downs with just 1:40 left in the half.

The Crusaders then got a 52-yard pass play from quarterback John Burton to Stephen Boyle and four plays later Ben Grazen scored on a 4-yard run for a 21-7 lead with just 39 second left in the half.

Coach Steven Wright's Crusaders went on to score on its first four possessions of the second half to take a 49-7 lead.

Grazen was huge for the Crusaders, especially during the third quarter rally. He scored three touchdowns, including a 13-yarder on his final carry in the game on the first play of the final quarter.

"This was a nice, complete game," Wright said. "We wanted to start fast and play a complete game and we did that. Grazen had a phenomenal night and Burton played a smart football game. Our offensive and defensive lines let us set the tone for the game."

The defensive front of ends Ben Huger and Matthew Skowron and tackles Nicholas Gleason, Nicholas Carroll, and Claude Ballbe pressured Ravens' veteran quarterback Quinn Billerman most of the night.

Billerman completed 13 of 24 attempts for 92 yards while the Ravens rushed for just 54 yards, including a 53-yard run by Quentin Taylor late in the game.

Burton completed seven of 12 passes for 109 yards and rushed for another 84 yards. Timothy Nalesnik caught four of the passes for 37 yards and Boyle caught the other three for 72 yards. Nalesnik also helped the Crusaders keep good field possession with his kick returns.

"We had the opportunity to tie the game late in the half, but didn't do it and then they scored and that turned all the momentum," Ravenscroft coach Ned Gonet said. "They beat us up front and they've got some speed."

Gibbons' fast start came on a three-and-out defensive stand and then a six-play 58-yard scoring drive with fullback Connor Prevost scoring from the three.