Muir Puts the Hurt on Crespi
Bill Redell’s silence was a product of his immediate environment. To his right lay his quarterback and son, Ron, who was being fitted for a sling for his right shoulder. To his left stood All-American back Russell White, who did not play the second half because of a mild concussion. Over his right shoulder glared the scoreboard. It read: Muir High 34, Crespi 29.
The question was posed: Could Crespi Coach Redell verbalize his frustrations? Redell stared at the rapidly emptying stands at Pierce College, and, finally said, “Football is a tough game played by tough people. We will find out how tough we are.”
The Celts have not proven tough enough so far. Ranked 18th by USA Today entering the season, they fell to 2-3 after the nonleague loss Friday night.
For most of the season, the culprit had been the defense, which has allowed an average of 321 yards. It was again Friday as Muir quarterback Darick Holmes rushed for 195 yards and 3 touchdowns in 27 carries. The 6-foot senior also completed 11 of 16 passes for 74 yards and 2 touchdowns with no interceptions.
Muir had devised a simple 3-play offense for Crespi--a quarterback trap, a wide receiver slant and an off-tackle blast for the running back--and still kept the Crespi defense off-balance. The trap, where Holmes faked a handoff to the fullback and followed him through the hole over right tackle, was particularly effective.
“We watched the game films, and we knew it would work on them,” Holmes said.
Added Muir Coach Herb Robinson: “They weren’t going to let us sweep on them. You have to take what they give you.”
What the Celts could not give the Mustangs was a healthy dose of White, who played in the first 2 series but sat out the rest of the game. He suffered the injury on a dive from Muir’s 5-yard line.
“He got dinged pretty good,” Redell said. “The doctor told us not to play him in the second half. You just don’t mess with a guy’s head, you know?”
Ron Redell was injured on the game’s final play when he heaved a desperation pass from the right sideline and was hit while falling out of bounds. He was taken off the field on a stretcher.
Holmes, in contrast, strutted off the field. He directed Muir’s final scoring drive 80 yards to give the Mustangs the lead for good with 1:26 left. The game-winner came on a 7-yard pass to Eric Mahone, 7 minutes after Leonice Brown ran 36 yards for a touchdown that gave the Celts a 29-28 lead.
White did considerable damage during the 2 first-half drives in which he played. He carried 8 times for 65 yards and scored the Celts’ first touchdown on a 13-yard plunge off left tackle. Crespi led, 7-0, with 7:14 remaining in the opening quarter.
Redell scored on a 5-yard rollout around right end to give the Celts a 13-0 advantage less than 6 minutes later. White bounced around right end after being stacked up on the left and dashed for 36 yards from the Celts’ 34 on second and 4 to set up the score.
White did not return, but he might have reappeared in the body of Muir’s Holmes. Holmes rushed for 115 yards in the half, including touchdown runs of 20 and 25 yards to give the Mustangs a 14-13 lead. Holmes’ 135 yards at halftime, including 20 passing, accounted for all but 11 of Muir’s yardage.
Bill Canalez hit a 24-yard field goal to give Crespi a 16-14 halftime lead.