Crescent gets defensive

Fittingly, the game ended with one final defensive stand.

Mooreland’s Carter Sampson overthrew his target on the game’s final play last Friday as Crescent preserved a 7-0 victory at home in its season opener.

The visiting Bearcats had driven to Crescent’s 3-yard line on the game’s final drive, but were denied just like every other time in the defensive slugfest.

“Our defense did a great job all night,” said head coach J.L. Fisher. “We had the ‘bend but don’t break’ mentality and the guys really responded.”

Crescent got its only score of the game with 5:42 to play when Tanner Rice found Boston Cox for a 61 yard touchdown.

The Tigers thought they had a score on the previous play, but Kade Varner stepped just past the line of scrimmage before releasing his pass.

“We thought we’d take another shot on the next play,” Fisher said.

Rice was split wide and went into motion and took a deep pitch from Varner.

“The defense thought it was going to be a jet sweep,” Fisher said.

That allowed Cox to get behind the defense and catch his third pass of the night.

Mooreland drove it down in its last attempt to tie the game.

“Our defense just bowed up when they tried to run it in on us,” Fisher said. “I didn’t think they’d try to pass it on the last play, but I’m glad they did. They have a good run game.”

Mooreland managed 224 rushing yards and averaged 4.9 yards a carry.

Crescent totaled 109 yards on 29 attempts.

Rice had 52 on his nine carries.

Luke Descher added 23 more.

Varner was 5 of 12 through the air for 39 yards. Rice’s lone completion covered the other 61 yards for Crescent.

Cox and C.J. Wilson had three receptions each. Cox had 71 yards and Wilson 29.

Stone Fisher swarmed the ball for the Tigers.

The lineman was in on 14 tackles.

Chism Watson added 10 and Mason Payne nine while Isaiah Lovett added eight.

“It was a big night for them,” Fisher concluded. “They had a great night for us.”