Offensive struggles continue as Crusaders drop two straight games
Posted by The Skyliner on September 16th, 2009Cory Guinn
Copy Editor
For the second straight game the North Greenville Crusaders were unable to finish drives and turned the ball over four times leading to a 33-14 defeat at the hands of the Wingate Bulldogs on Sept. 5. Two of the turnovers, an interception and a fumble, were returned for touchdowns by the Bulldogs.
“Our young team is growing up quickly and we’re playing some very good football teams,” head coach Jamey Chadwell said. “We are not executing well enough to win games right now. We just had way too many miscues.”
Statistically, the two teams were almost even. However, North Greenville’s turnover problems gave the Bulldogs a short field to work with on most of their drives which they quickly drove down the field and put points on the scoreboard.
With the exception of the turnovers, the Crusader offense showed much improvement from the first game. They gained 245 total yards and scored two touchdowns, both on the ground. The North Greenville passing game continued to struggle as quarterback Richard Harb, junior history, completed just 12 of 31 pass attempts for 105 yards and two interceptions.
Harb did do some damage with his feet in the game, rushing nine times for 20 yards and one touchdown. Running back Montez Hatten, sophomore business, was the games’ offensive standout, carrying the ball 12 times for 43 yards and one touchdown while catching four passes for 61 yards. Justin Beasley, freshman sport management, had nine carries for 34 yards to help the offense.
The North Greenville defense had a strong showing once again, allowing only 297 total yards to the Bulldogs. Linebacker Carl Dukes, junior elementary education, led the defense finishing with 6.5 tackles. Defensive back Xavier Boykin, senior sport management, had five tackles and blocked a Wingate field goal attempt in the second quarter.
Andre Bernardi, senior sport management, had another strong game for the Crusaders as he finished with 3.5 tackles and 1.5 sacks while defensive lineman Johnell Bell had 2.5 tackles and one sack. J. J. Fullwood, freshman business, had one forced fumble.
On Sept. 12, the Crusaders continued their tough schedule with a matchup against the sixth-ranked Wolverines of Wesley College. The Wolverines traveled 11 hours on a bus from Delaware but showed no signs of fatigue when they arrived at Younts Stadium, defeating the Crusaders 28-3.
“Wesley is a very well-established Division III program, and we just didn’t execute on offense like we needed to during this game,” Chadwell said.
The Crusader offense struggled once again and amassed only 229 yards in the game. Starting quarterback Aaron Seigler, sophomore business, did not do much in the passing game but did rush six times for 80 yards, including a 55-yard scramble in the first quarter. The play set up a 24-yard field goal by kicker Zach Sears, freshman business.
Harb completed only nine of 22 passes for 77 yards. Receiver Taylor Malphrus, junior business, returned from an offseason injury to catch three passes for 34 yards. Tight end John Paquette, sophomore business, also caught three passes for 24 yards.
On the defensive side of the ball Bernardi had another great game finishing with seven tackles, 2.5 sacks and 4.5 tackles for a loss. Defensive back Alexander Jones, freshman accounting, had his best game of the season as he had fives tackles, one sack and one tackle for a loss. Jamarius Robinson, sophomore business, chipped in with four tackles and an interception that took away a Wesley touchdown to end the first quarter.
“The defense has played well but not well enough,” linebacker Nathan Batchelor, sophomore business said. “Our goal is to shut every team out and we are going to keep working hard every day. If we have to score to win, then that is what we are going to do.”
North Greenville (0-3) goes on the road this week for the first of four consecutive road games on their schedule. The Crusaders will travel to Hickory, NC to take on Lenoir Rhyne University at 7 p.m. on Sept. 19.
Tags: Fall 2009, Vol. 109 - Issue 2