Fresh off their 30-0 thumping of Scotlandville in the first round of the playoffs, the Crusaders prepare for their second meeting of the season with the Rummel Raiders Friday night at Joe Yenni Stadium.
The sixth-seeded Cruaders dominated the Hornets from the opening whistle, scoring on their first two possessions. The first points came on a 20-yard pass from freshman QB Garrett Mmahat to LJ Gilyot. After Jack Landry’s 34-yard field goal made it 10-0, junior RB Chris Smith scampered 20 yards into the end zone for the first of his three touchdowns to make it 16-0 at halftime. Smith ran for 134 yards and sophomore Jaylen Spears added 89 on the ground.
The Crusader defense had another excellent game. It was the fourth game this season in which Coach Lance Ledet’s unit has allowed eight or fewer points. Scotlandville went three-and-out on seven of their ten possessions in the game.
“We took care of business,” says Coach Mark Bonis. “Two weeks in a row, all three phases have played well.”
Tonight the Raiders will have WR Coy Moore, a USC commitment, in the lineup. “He didn’t play against us the first game. They do a great job of getting him the football, lining him up in the backfield as well as at wide receiver. So they present another great athlete we’ll have to contain in space.”
“Defensively, they’re as fast and athletic as any team we’ve faced. They have more speed than Curtis, but they’re not as big up front.”
The Crusader offense was hampered by injuries in the first Rummel game. “The biggest thing that has helped us offensively is that our running backs are healthier and give us depth at that position.”
Senior QB Chandler Fields directs the Raider offense. “He’s a dual-threat guy who can give defenses fits. He can beat teams in the air when they stack the box, and when they give him numbers in the box, he’s an effective runner.”
Rummel started their 17-0 victory on October 19 with a 96-yard kickoff return touchdown. They scored their other touchdown after a fumble recovery in Crimson territory. The Crusaders must avoid those mistakes in the rematch.
Is there any advantage to either team in the second meeting? “I don’t think anybody likes playing anybody for the second time. The team that lost likes to have another opportunity. But when you know one another so well as district opponents, I don’t think a rematch favors either side.”
Come out and support your Crusaders as they take on the Archbishop Rummel Raiders tonight, for the second round of playoffs, at Joe Yenni Stadium. Kick-off is for 7:00 p.m.
