Crescent surge continues against CHA

Crescent had two receivers pass the century mark in yardage in a single game last week.

This week, the running backs did their part.

The Tigers last Friday took a huge step toward making the playoffs with a 26-13 win over Christian Heritage Academy in Edmond.

C.J. Wilson ran for 140 yards and a touchdown while Tanner Rice added 132 yards and three more scores on the ground.

“Oh yeah, that was a big win,” admitted Crescent coach J.L. Fisher.

The win moved the Tigers to 5-0 on the season and 2-0 in District A-3. The loss bumped CHA to 4-2 and 1-1.

Crescent is now one of two A-3 teams, along with Minco, without a district loss. There are only six teams in the district, meaning just two will miss the playoffs.

In the previous week’s win over Watonga, the Tigers uncharacteristically went to the air as Kade Varner threw for 265 yards and five scores. Isaiah Lovett and Wilson each boasted more than 100 yards receiving.

This time around, Crescent exploited the Crusaders with its ground game.

Varner attempted just seven passes as the Tigers ran the ball 53 times.

They netted 350 yards, an average of 6.6 a carry.

Rice got the call 22 times. He scored on a 3-yard run in the first quarter and then with 4:13 to play in the first half from 20 yards out.

That TD gave Crescent a 14-6 halftime lead.

Wilson made it 20-6 at 9:03 of the third when he busted loose for a 51-yard TD.

After CHA’s Zach Harris and Nate Jones connected for their second touchdown of the night to make it 20-13, Rice helped put the game away, He broke free for a 44-yard touchdown at 3:33 of the third quarter.

That gave Crescent its final margin as neither team scored in the fourth.

Varner added 64 rushing yards for the Tigers.

The rushing attack helped offset Harris’ air raid as he was 28 of 38 for 351 yards. Jones caught nine passes for 143 yards.

However, the Crusaders found nothing on the ground as their 18 attempts netted zero yards.

Rice was able to pick off Harris once.

Stone Fisher led the defense with seven total tackles.

Lovett had six while Luke Descher and Wilson were in on five apiece.

Crescent is off this week and returns to action Thursday, Oct. 13, at Hinton.

“It couldn’t come at a better time,” Fisher said of the off week. “We don’t have anyone out due to injuries, but we’ve got a lot of the typical sore stuff that’s related to football and this will give us a chance to heal up.”