Last Friday night, the Crusaders hosted the Bulldogs at home where EC was able to leap out to a staggering 58-0 halftime lead before cruising to a 64-0 final score.
The Crusaders had an amazing defensive showing with two pick-sixes as they held the Bulldogs to -14 offensive yards throughout the game.
EC started the game on the hunt, looking to extend their record to 2-0 in the 3A Metro League while the Bulldogs were still recovering from a tough 29-6 loss against the Ballard Beavers the week before. This difference in motivation and team spirit would prove to be a key factor in the game, as the Crusaders hounded the Bulldogs all night on the Plateau, leaving Garfield with -14 yards of total offense by the time the final whistle blew.
The Crusaders started hot, scoring 30 points in the first quarter alone. Jaylyn Keller put on a spectacle in the first quarter with a 40-yard punt return for a touchdown. This was followed up by quarterback Isaac Corey connecting with wide receiver Connor Flynn for a 33-yard touchdown. From this point on, Eastside Catholic continued to pile on the pressure, tacking on its first pick-six to bring the score to 28-0 by the end of the first quarter.
This would be followed up by another strong quarter as the Crusaders proceeded to hang another 30 points on the scoreboard to make it 58-0 by half.
The Crusaders high-powered offense was helped by running backs Nick Jones and Jeremiah Burroughs who cut through this Bulldog defense and combined for 12 carries, 145 yards, and 3 rushing touchdowns. Additionally, Daniel Jones of Eastside Catholic closed out the game with a lung-busting, 96-yard rushing touchdown.
This large win for Eastside will be a great morale booster as the Crusaders turn around to face fellow 3A Metro League titan O’Dea at home on Friday (which will be broadcast on the Metro Prep Athletics YouTube channel). The winner of this game could be the decider in who finishes first in this 3A league, so all eyes will be on this showdown. Garfield will move on to face Rainer Beach on Friday at their home field, hoping to turn their record around.
