Tigers nearly pull off CHA upset

Christian Heritage Academy outscored Crescent by two touchdowns over the fi nal two-plus quarters to escape with a win in last Friday’s season finale for both teams.

CHA won despite being out-gained 451-244 by the Tigers.

“I thought it was one of our best offensive games against a good team,” Crescent coach J.L. Fisher said. “And defensively, we did well, but just gave up a couple plays that made the difference.

“We should have won, really.”

Crescent scored first, led at halftime and didn’t trail until the third quarter and then, after tying it back up, not until 7:30 remained.

The Tigers were up 20-12 in the second quarter when CHA pulled within two points by scoring a touchdown with 16 seconds left before half.

Crescent maintained its lead until 1:46 remained in the third quarter.

That’s when Jayden Tyson scored his second TD in the half, this one giving CHA a 26-20 lead.

Crescent answered back as Trent Fisher scored on a 4-yard run with 9:25 to go to tie the game.

Tayon Johnson’s extra-point attempt was blocked, keeping the game tied.

Tyson then scored the eventual game-winner with 7:30 to go when he burst into the end zone from 47 yards out.

Johnson, who punched it in from 3 yards out near the end of the fi rst half, fi nished with 120 yards on 19 carries.

He was the Crusaders’ best weapon.

Kye Davis and Carson Bullard combined for 141 passing yards.

Crescent countered with a dominant ground game as four different Tigers had at least 42 yards rushing and two surpassed the century mark.

Hunter Wilmoth got the call 16 times and turned them into 131 yards. He had an 18-yard TD run in the fi rst quarter.

After CHA tied it, Fisher hauled in a 23-yard scoring strike from Cade Watkins.

Watkins also had a 20-yard touchdown run in the fi rst half.

Fisher tallied 105 rushing yards on 17 carries and 31 more yards on two catches.

Dominic Descher added 58 rushing yards and Johnson 42 more.

Fisher also contributed 16 total tackles on defense while Cannon Bowers added 10 and Johnson nine.

CHA finished its year with a 6-4 record overall and 2-4 in District A-3. The Crusaders missed the playoffs one year after reaching the state championship game.

Crescent was 4-6 overall and 1-5.

The Tigers figured to be in rebuilding mode after graduating a plethora of seniors the last two years.

“We had a chance to be 5-5 and maybe 6-4,” Fisher said. “But, still, a 4-6 record with this bunch was better than a lot of people expected.”