North Cross combined a steady, ball-controll offense along with an upstart defense as the Raiders won for the third straight week in the shutout victory at Thomas Field over the visitors from Virginia Beach. North Cross improved to 3-1 on the season.
After North Cross won the toss and deferred to the second half, Bishop Sullivan took the opening kickoff and marched inside the Raider 15-yard line before the Raider defense held on downs. The Raiders went three-and-out and were forced to punt from deep in their own territory. However, the momentum took a quick turn when the kick was mishandled by the Crusaders and the Raiders fell on the loose ball. North Cross took over and drove for the initial score capped by a 2-yard plunge by running back Antoine Martin. Micajah Lacy added the PAT for a 7-0 North Cross lead.
North Cross scored in the second quarter on a 35-yard Fuller Clark pass to Brandon Trent as the Raiders went to the locker room up 14-0. The second half turned into a battle of field position until Martin broke loose for a 19-yard TD run midway through the fourth. Bishop Sullivan had little success solving the Raider defensive schemes the rest of the way and North Cross securred the shutout.
Martin led the Raider rushing attack with 105 yards on 17 carries. Clark, who came in after a knee injury to starting QB Thomas Weaver, threw for 113 yards. Lacy was 3-for-3 on conversions. The North Cross hurry-up, no-huddle offense kept Bishop Sullivan off-balance most of the game as the Crusaders were continually looking to the sideline to get a defensive set just as the Raiders called the play.
The key, however, was the North Cross defense. “Our defense was great today,” Raider Head Coach Stephen Alexander said after the game. “We wanted to shut down their running game. Our work in the weight room showed itself.”
“Last week (against Blessed Sacrament) it was up and down the field, ” Alexander added. “Today we focused on field position. The early fumble by them was a big turnaround and momentum shifter. This was a must-win for us to make the playoffs.”
Next up for the Raiders is a visit by Virginia Episcopal School this Friday (Sept 24th) for a 4:30 kickoff. The contest should provide a little extra incentive for Alexander and his squad – VES is coached by his father and the Bishop’s quarterback is his younger brother. “It should be a lot of fun,” Alexander laughed. “We’ll have a lot of family here.”
By Bill Turner [email protected]