Fann Dances for 191 Yards as Cleveland Scores Upset

With league play set to begin next week, Cleveland High has served notice on its Valley 4-A opponents: the Cavalier offense can offer more than just a runaround.

Cleveland’s Albert Fann sped through, around and over Crenshaw defenders for 191 yards Friday, but it was Fann’s supporting cast that made the most crucial plays in the Cavaliers’ 20-7 upset of the Cougars at Crenshaw.

Cleveland scored the only two touchdowns it needed on long passes, and the Cavalier defense recovered two fumbles and blocked a punt.

“That’s what we wanted to establish,” said Cleveland Coach Steve Landress, whose team improved to 4-0. “Now they have to defend a total team, not just one guy. The big plays are there, we just have to execute.”

It is impossible, however, to belittle Fann’s impact. Cleveland had taken a 14-7 halftime lead, and Fann dominated the final two quarters, effectively keeping the ball away from Crenshaw’s offense.

Even when Fann was less than 100%, Crenshaw (3-1) could not stop him. Fann began to hyperventilate during one fourth-quarter series and was unable to alert the Cleveland staff of his breathing difficulty until the Cavaliers had run six plays. Fann carried the ball on all six and picked up two first downs.

Crenshaw had moderate success stopping Fann inside, but he was devastating when he was able to get outside. On one play, Fann started running a sweep to the left, then shook off several would-be tacklers and gained 53 yards before being tackled along the right sideline.

“I was watching their films, and their defense looked really good, but I thought they over-pursued,” Fann said. “I tried to start one way and then cut back most of the time.”

The Cavaliers’ emotional intensity exceeded Crenshaw’s from the beginning. Cleveland players shouted, “Four and 0,” and “Beat the ‘Shaw,” during pregame warm-ups, while some Crenshaw players talked among themselves about the size of the Cleveland players.

“Now we’re going to get the respect we deserve,” Fann said. “We want to be the team to beat this year.”

Landress was impressed that Cleveland was able to play so well on the road.

“When you come to the ‘Shaw, it’s like giving them two touchdowns,” he said. “We felt like we were starting the game down, 14-0.”

After being stopped quickly on its first drive, Cleveland needed only one play to score on its second possession. Cavalier quarterback Mario Hull hooked up with wide receiver Jay Rich for a 69-yard touchdown pass. It was his only completion in four attempts.

Hull had underthrown Rich, but Crenshaw defensive back Michael Williams deflected the ball into the hands of Rich, who ran the final 30 yards for the score.

On Crenshaw’s next possession, running back Jerry Blackshire appeared to be on his way to a 52-yard touchdown run, but the ball popped out of his hands at Cleveland’s 4-yard line and was recovered by the Cavaliers’ Clifton Parish.

Crenshaw later scored on a 16-yard touchdown pass from Jeffrey Sullivan to Williams, but Cleveland used a trick play to regain the lead before halftime.

With 30 seconds left in the second quarter, Hull lateraled the ball to Rich, who threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Mike Aranzullo.

Crenshaw appeared to be driving toward a tying touchdown in the third quarter. The Cougars, starting at their own 33-yard line, quickly picked up three first downs to move the ball to the Cleveland 23.

Cleveland linebacker Mike Carl sacked Sullivan for a seven-yard loss on first down, however, and Crenshaw had to give up the ball three plays later after a fourth-down completion was short of the first-down marker.

Cleveland scored its final touchdown with nine minutes left in the game after Carl blocked a punt by Rashawn Weatherspoon deep in Crenshaw’s territory. Fann capped the Cavaliers’ four-play, 15-yard drive with a six-yard touchdown run.

Although Cleveland used a diversified attack to beat Crenshaw, Landress said Fann, who has rushed for 603 yards, will continue to be the bulk of the offense.

Said Landress: “He needs to gain 100 yards or we’ll lose.”