Crusaders fall to Golden Eagles 34-7 on homecoming
Posted by The Skyliner on October 21st, 2009Cory Guinn
Copy Editor
After getting the first victory of the season, head coach Jamey Chadwell led the Crusader football team into their toughest game of the season against the North Alabama Lions on Oct. 8.
The Lions, ranked third overall in Division II, had not lost a home game since 2004 and this streak would remain intact as North Alabama defeated North Greenville 50-3 in a one-sided game.
“Our guys played hard and I was proud of the effort,” Chadwell said. “They are just a better football team than us right now.”
On the offensive side of the ball, North Greenville amassed only 73 total yards, much of which came on the ground. Running back Montez Hatten, sophomore business, rushed 14 times for a total of 31 yards and running back Justin Beasley, freshman sport management, had 11 carries for 23 yards.
North Greenville’s defense was strong in the first half once again but the Lions offense proved to be more aggressive in the long run. Linebacker Damien Wright, graduate student, had another strong performance finishing with 8.5 total tackles in the game.
Defensive backs Jereme Green, sophomore print media, and Jamarius Robinson, sophomore business, each had 6.5 total tackles while linebacker Nathan Batchelor, sophomore business, finished with six total tackles.
Defensive lineman Andre Bernardi, senior sport management, had another big game for North Greenville finishing with two sacks and one forced fumble in the game. In addition to their strong play, the Crusader defense also created the only scoring chance for North Greenville.
In the fourth quarter, Alex James, sport management, forced a fumble which was recovered by Johnell Bell, senior business administration, at the North Alabama 14 yard line. The Crusader offense was unable to put the ball in the end zone but did get on the board when Zach Sears, freshman business, kicked a 24-yard field goal for North Greenville’s only points of the game.
“We have not even come close to out potential,” offensive lineman James Thurn, junior broadcast media, said. “We have to get better each and every day. We have an uphill climb the rest of the season and we just have to keep striking the stone.”
The Crusaders’ uphill climb continued on Oct. 17 when the 11th-ranked University of Charleston Golden Eagles traveled from West Virginia to Tigerville to take on North Greenville.
The Crusaders hung tough for most of the game, keeping within striking distance until a fourth quarter outburst by the Golden Eagles. The Golden Eagles scored 13 points in the final quarter to come away with a 34-7 victory over the Crusaders.
The North Greenville offense showed much improvement from the North Alabama game racking up 250 total yards, including 199 from the ground game. Hatten ran the ball 16 times for 73 yards and wide receiver Marcus Middleton, junior sport management, was used in the backfield multiple times as he carried seven times for 66 yards, including a second quarter touchdown.
Nicolas Williams, freshman undecided, was also put in the backfield during the game as he rushed four times for 31 yards. Quarterback Richard Harb, junior history, continued his struggles, completing just eight of 22 pass attempts for 51 yards and three interceptions. Williams was Harb’s favorite target finishing the game with five receptions for 32 yards.
“We can’t beat a good team when you turn the ball over and throw three interceptions,” Chadwell said. “We have played a very tough schedule, and if this would have been any team besides one of the best, we could have won. The off week really helped give our offense some confidence, and I thought we executed very well. We moved the ball very well all afternoon, but we couldn’t get it in the end zone.”
The defense did their part and kept the game close until the end as the University of Charleston wore down the Crusaders to make the margin of victory even higher. Robinson had his second strong game in a row finishing with seven total tackles. Batchelor finished with 6.5 total tackles, one tackle for a loss, and one interception.
Jones and Bernardi put pressure on the Golden Eagle offense all game combining for four tackles for a loss and two sacks. Bernardi also forced a fumble in the game and Nick Rosamonda, sophomore sport management, finished with a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
The Crusader football team has an off week next week before returning to action against Clark Atlanta on Oct. 31 at 2 p.m. in Atlanta, Ga.
Tags: Fall 2009, Vol. 109 - Issue 6