Tigers run past Woodland

There may very well be times Crescent’s inexperienced football team struggles mightily this season.

The season opener just wasn’t one of them.

The Tigers got 2019 off to a solid start last Friday with a 37-14 victory at Woodland.

Crescent dominated the first quarter and never let the Cougars back into it.

“We made some mistakes; it was a typical first game,” head coach J.L. Fisher said. “But I was a little surprised we played as well as we did.”

Crescent dominated all aspects of the ground game.

The Tigers rolled up 259 rushing yards while limiting their hosts to minus-17.

Quarterback Hunter Wilmoth did the most damage with 167 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries.

Dominic Descher added another 92 yards on 20 attempts and he also scored.

Wilmoth got two first-quarter scores, the first on a 2-yard plunge midway through the frame.

He added a 17-yard scamper with 2:10 remaining in the quarter for a 15–0 lead.

Woodland pulled within 15-8 at 9:43 of the first quarter, but Wilmoth struck with 2:02 remaining before halftime, this time from 34 yards out.

The Tigers eventually scored 22 straight points for a 37-8 lead.

A.J. Powell picked off a pass and returned it for a score late in the third quarter and Descher put the game away for good with a 2-yard run in the fourth.

The Cougars had just 80 yards of offense to 258 for Crescent.

The Tigers’ lone bleak spot was the passing game. Wilmoth was 2 of 8 for minus-1 yard and two picks.

Gage Tontz led Crescent’s defense with eight tackles. Powell added seven to go with his interception.

Trent Fisher and Nick Laxton had six apiece.

Fisher said he’ll take the win as an added bonus while his team gains experience.

“Things probably went better than we thought, but the gauntlet is coming with our district,” he said.