Game Summary

Saturday, 2 April @2pm the 1st place Crusaders dehorned the Rhinos 28-12 in a game that was no where near indicative of the score.

The rhinos figured they’d get their offense going on the first possession of the game but quickly found out that they were severely overmatched by the Crusader’s #1 ranked defense. The crusaders quickly jumped all over the rhinos as Dee Jones made a monster hit on the Rhinos Qb sending him flying out of bounds, proving the old adage that it’s not the size of the dog, but the size of the fight in the dog.

The Crusader’s offense trotted on the field led by their “Bully Cru” O-Line and quickly went to work, imposing their will on the defense. They walked the Rhinos defense down the field and culminated the drive with a catch and bullish run by the newly acquired wideout Matrix Drewery as he initiated contact with Daniel Flowers, a former Crusader DB, and carried him 5 yards for the grown man touchdown.

The defense went back out there and Shon Landers came screaming downhill to destroy the Rhinos power back Omar Grimes jarring the ball lose into the Crusader’s mitts. The Crusaders wasted no time bullying the Rhinos down the field behind their Punishing O line aided by big-time catches by Andre Jackson and a touchdown reception by Justin Banks while mossing one of the Rhinos undersized Linebackers. Justin “Biggity” Banks caught the 2 point conversion as well completing the 8 point possession.

The Crusaders capped off the half with a pinpoint back-shoulder pass by Phonta’ “Old Man” Williams to Barry “Big Play” Hargraves to take a 20-0 halftime lead.

The Cru came out in the 2nd half and turned the ball over twice including a fumble that was recovered by Eric Baker, another former Crusader at the Crusader’s very own 1-yard line. The Crusader’s defense sprinted onto the field with one goal in mind and it wasn’t preventing a Rhinos score, it was to produce a Crusaders touchdown!

The stout Crusaders D-Line quickly manhandled the Rhinos underwhelming and overmatched O-Line back to the 15-yard line on the first 3 plays. Then the Rhinos rookie QB Joe Gustafson made the epic mistake of trying “Easy Money Sniper” Shad Harris who picked him off at the 5-yard line and rumbled 95 yards for the score. Crusaders went up 28-0 after a 2pt conversion run off the right end by Roc Artis.

The game got a little sloppy and the flags began to fly exclusively in the Crusader’s direction. One flag, in particular, saw a spectacular over-the-shoulder grab by the Super Star receiver, who previously played ball at Virginia State, Andre “Uncheckable” Jackson on a phantom holding call that the video review has yet to find.

The Rhinos then benefited from a plethora of roughing the passer calls that put them inside the red zone and they eventually led to their first score. The Rhinos then added another late touchdown down in garbage time. Nonetheless, the Crusaders played with their food all day and continued their dominance over the rhinos.

Next up for the Cru is a road game against a scrappy Jets team who shocked the Crusaders last year in their house 8-6 on a late touchdown due to a mental mistake by a Crusaders rookie DB.

Should be a good game Saturday night @6pm at Chalkley Elementary School
3301 Turner Road
Chesterfield, Va 23832

Mitch Johnson signing out.

____
Written by Mitch Johnson, VA Crusaders Reporter