Colonel Crawford knocks off top-seed Centerburg in regional semifinal football
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CENTERBURG – Unselfishness is a word frequently thrown around in team sports.
At Colonel Crawford, it's not a cliché. It's a reality, according to head football coach Jake Bruner, after the Eagles defeated Centerburg 42-13 in a Division VI, Region 23 semifinal.
"There are too many kids on our team that sacrificed everything about them for everyone else," Bruner said. "I can start with our quarterback, Peyton Baker. He was playing a little bit as a sophomore, then Brayden Holt comes in and has done a great job. Those guys love each other."
A combination of Baker and Connor McMichael on the ground, and Holt's passing, allowed the black and gold to advance.
"I can't say enough about both kids," Bruner said. "Our offensive and defensive lines just wore them down tonight. Payne DeGray is pretty freakin' good, Dom Dean is pretty freakin' good.
"When you got a sophomore (Gabe Stratton) whacking people in there and Roen Thew in there blocking for people, it was all about the unselfishness of our kids. Parker Weithman is going to break every receiving record in our school's history, and he's yelling at our offensive coordinator to run the ball."
Baker had 107 rushing yards on eight carries and scored two touchdowns, McMichael had his normal bruising and cruising night gaining 201 yards on 23 carries.
Colonel Crawford (12-1) faces West Jefferson (11-1) on a neutral field in Week 14 after the Rough Riders defeated Fort Frye 34-32.
"I could go on for an hour about all the kids who have sacrificed for the team," Bruner said. "It shows our team effort and I'm really proud of our kids."
Baker's touchdown runs of six and eight yards put the Eagles on top 14-0 at halftime. The third quarter, however, belonged to McMichael. Somehow the 210-pound senior got wide open down the left sideline for a 58-yard strike from Holt just a minute and a half into the second half.
But McMichael wasn't done there, as he added runs of two and 21 yards later in the quarter to put Crawford ahead 35-7.
"We were very physical tonight and we knew we had to be," Bruner said. "Carson Rader stepped up and played safety. We moved Parker Weithman to the corner because of his speed. We put two seniors, David Rike and Nate McCartney, on the bench. They took a role for the team."
Centerburg coach Andy Colella recognized his team had a challenge coming in.
"We knew they had an explosive offense," Colella said. "We game planned to take away (Weithman) and they ran the football really well tonight. They had a little bit more juice to them in that regard.
"We had a great season and didn't quit tonight amid all the frustration. They've done a great job and have a lot to be proud of this year … a lot of things very few teams have done here. It hurts now, but when the dust settles they're going to look back at a heck of a run."
Centerburg is a unique venue with a hillside filled with lawn chairs and very tight sidelines.
"We talked about facing the adversity of the locker room (it was away from the field) and a small sideline," Bruner said. "We got one sideline warning — I don't know how the heck we're supposed to fit 66 kids on the sideline over there — but it's a really cool setting and a good football team."
With West Jefferson up next, Bruner said the gauntlet started against Centerburg.
"That's a heck of a football team … they've got athletes, it's tough when you lose," he said. "We've been there too. The way our season ended last year, our seniors knew there there was some unfinished business for us.
"We're living to fight another day for our seniors."
This article originally appeared on Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum: OHSAA Football: Colonel Crawford trounces top-seed Centerburg
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