Columbus Crusaders march to a 53-22 win over the C4 Eagles

 



*I am using the rosters for HUdl and Max preps as I was unable to obtain them at the game.*

Grove City, Ohio Saturday night took me to Grove City, where the Columbus Crusaders were set to face the C4 Eagles, at the home of the Grove City Christian Eagles. The C4 Eagles came in with a 3-3 record, while the Crusaders came in at 4-2. The Eagles lost their game last week 7-6 to the Noblesville Lions 7-6, while the Crusaders were coming off a one-point loss (19-18) against Landmark Christian out of Cincinnati.

The Crusaders defense struck first when Austin Bauer picked off a Kejour Reed pass. Unfortunately for the Crusaders, the ensuing drive needed just four yards and a punt.

Reed would connect with Tyler Wright, a dangerous player with speed to burn for a gain of 18 yards. Stephen Wright moved the chains with a hard-nosed 8-yard run with 6:47 left in the opening quarter. Reed would be picked off by Bauer to end the drive. Bauer looked like Willie Mays playing a fly ball as he made the pick look easy.

Ezekiel Bowie raced to a 38-yard run to get things going for the Crusaders. The 5-play, 50-yard drive ended on a by Reggie Harris. Harris then converted the two-point run to make this an 8-0 game, with 4:00 showing on the clock.

The Crusaders defense led by Patrick Green, who stopped Stephen Wright for a loss of three, quickly forced an Eagles punt. The defense had two picks and forced a punt on the Eagles first three drives. I would guess Coach Garner and staff had to be very happy.

A 48-yard run by the fast Bowie played a large part in the Crusaders next score, a 3-yard run by Braylon Walker that made the score 14-0 as Lucas Stoner had his PAT blocked.

A 34-yard run by Tyler Wright got things moving in the right direction for the Eagles. A sack on Reed by Zachery McMenamin and then a pick by Reggie Harris ended any hopes of a score.

The 2nd quarter had 9:06 remaining when Reed found Stephen Wright for 20 yards down to the Crusaders five. Reed would be sacked by Josiah South for a loss of four with 8:40 left in the half. South and Justin Bauer would stop Reed on fourth and two for a loss of two, forcing a turnover on downs.

A 79-yard run by Reggie Harris would have gone for a score if not for the hustle of Tyler Wright. Wright is as good of a two-way player that I have watched this year. Reggie Harris found Braden Miller for an 11-yard touchdown, followed by the PAT from Stoner, making this a 21-0 game with 5:02 left in the half.

On the ensuing kickoff, the Eagles return looked like a deer hypnotized by headlights, allowing Stoner to pounce on the free ball, putting the Crusaders back on the field. The ensuing drive ended on a 6-yard touchdown run by Bowie, making this a 27-0 game, as the PAT was again blocked.

Reggie Harris was sacked by Pierson Freeburg early in the third to highlight the quarter for the Eagles. The highlight for the Crusaders was a 10-yard touchdown pass from Harris to Austin Bauer, another really good way to score, making this a 33-0 game.

The Eagles finally got to fly high when Tyler Wright showed his speed on a 66-yard touchdown run, followed by a two-point conversion run from Reed, making this a 33-8 game with 11:34 left in the game.

A fumble by Wes Burkholder was scooped up by Stephen Wright, who raced for the score, making this a 33-16 game, and the two-point conversion pass was successful by Reed to Peyton Brown, with 10:03 left.

Austin Bauer took the ensuing kickoff nearly 65 yards, setting up a 16-yard touchdown run from Bowie followed by a two-point conversion run from Darrick Mason to make this a 41-16 game, with 9:43 remaining.

Just 0:17 later, Justin Bauer pounced on a C4 fumble, putting the Crusaders offense back on the field. Patrick Green used a twisting, turning, powerful run breaking a tackle on his way to a 24-yard touchdown to make this a 47-16 game, as another PAT was blocked.

Columbus would score one final time with Tristian Ford getting a pick-six from close to 55 yards out. The PAT by #75 Riley Abrusci was wide, leaving this a 53-16 game. A 27-yard pass from Reed to Tyler Wright made the final score 53-22 Columbus.

My Stats

Eagles

39 plays

235 Yards

Passing, 6-14, 1 TD, 3 Int's

Crusaders

43 plays

340 yards

Passing, 5-12, 2 Td's, 1 Int

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