By Lucas Rains
Local Sports Journal
RAVENNA – What could have been a really good game between two local powers ended the way it always does when Muskegon Catholic plays:
The Crusaders rolled to another one-sided victory.
This time the victim was Ravenna, which ended its regular season with a 45-0 loss to MCC on its home field.
The win gives the Crusaders a perfect 9-0 record and ties a school record with 21 straight victories. The Bulldogs fell to 7-2.
Both teams have already qualified for the state playoffs, which begin next week. First round pairings will be announced Sunday night.
“Going undefeated in the regular season is great and we have a nice little win streak that dates back to last year,” MCC head coach Steve Czerwon said. “But none of those things mean anything unless you start winning in the playoffs.”
Leading the juggernaut Crusaders offense was a balanced rushing attack featuring Tommy Scott and Logan Helton. Scott carried the ball 11 times for 106 yards and a touchdown. Helton had seven carries for 107 yards and two touchdowns.
Christian Martinez started at quarterback for the second straight game, as starter Nick Holt rests for the playoff push. Martinez threw for 153 yards and two touchdowns. Zach Winzer hauled in four passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns.
The Crusaders scored early and often.
It started when Scott ran 54 yards for a touchdown just 19 seconds into the game.
Helton ran right up the middle for a 59 yard score on the first play of MCC’s second drive, giving the visitors a 14-0 lead less than three minutes into the game.
“I thought the early lead was important,” Czerwon said. “This team has always come out and played great from the start of the game and I thought it was important to do that again tonight.”
Crusader kicker Griffin Seymour booted a 33-yard field goal with 5:43 left in the opening quarter to put MCC up 17-0.
Martinez found Lamar Jordan on a play action pass in the corner of the end zone for a 19-yard touchdown strike to open the second quarter.
Martinez completed a screen pass to Winzer, who bolted down the sideline untouched for a 70-yard touchdown, giving MCC a 31-0 lead with 5:59 left in the half.
A Bulldog pass was intercepted with just over a minute left in the half and the Crusaders took advantage. Martinez threw a perfect pass over the top of the defense to Winzer for a 60-yard touchdown, giving MCC a 38-0 halftime advantage.
At the 3:13 mark in the third, Helton scored his second touchdown of the contest on a 25-yard run up the middle.
Ravenna was led on offense by Gabe Zimmer and Korson Mundinger. Zimmer carried nine times for 67 yards and Mundinger had 12 carries for 73 yards.
The Crusaders’ defense posted its second straight shutout vand has allowed just 70 points this season.
