Crespi Awakens, Levels Bishop Montgomery, 35-13

A week after absorbing its annual spanking by Loyola High, Crespi’s football team was looking to mete out some corporal punishment of its own when it took on Torrance Bishop Montgomery in the Mission League opener for both teams.

The Celts not only raised some welts, they razed Bishop Montgomery’s defensive secondary and passing attack en route to a 35-13 victory Friday night at Bishop Montgomery.

Crespi (4-1) fell behind, 13-0, in the first period, then scored all of its points in an unanswered five-touchdown barrage. The Celt defense intercepted four Bishop Montgomery passes, returning one for a touchdown, and Crespi quarterback Cody Smith had his best game of the season, throwing for 172 yards and four touchdowns.

“Their offense came out and put it to us on the ground. We were very concerned,” Crespi Coach Tim Lins said. “Then we started to attack their man defense, and it worked.”

Boy, did it work.

Down by a couple of touchdowns and playing without starting tailback Torie Lee (inflamed ribs), the Celts took over at their 47-yard line after a 38-yard kickoff return by Dereck Williams. Smith, who had fumbled into his end zone and cost Crespi a touchdown earlier, began to find sizable holes in the Bishop Montgomery secondary and quickly drove the Celts downfield.

On first down at the Knight 25-yard line, he rifled a touchdown pass to tight end Frank Romano to cut the deficit to 13-6.

On the next series, Knight punter Mike Hall touched his knee down after a low snap, and the Celts had the ball on the Bishop Montgomery 26.

Two plays later, from the eight, Smith rolled right and found Rich Carranza wide open in the end zone. Bill Canalez added the extra point, and the score was tied, 13-13, with 7 minutes 46 seconds left until halftime.

When the Celts got the ball back, Smith got them airborne again, tossing a 42-yard bomb to Ryan Kieling, his fourth scoring catch of the season. Kieling was interfered with, but still managed to take the ball away from Nacio Jennings.

Crespi increased its advantage to 28-13 with 14 seconds remaining in the half when Lance Thomas picked off a John Zimmerman pass and took it 47 yards down the right sideline.

Smith was seven of 15 for 127 yards in the first half and finished 12 of 23 with no interceptions.

The Crespi defense limited Bishop Montgomery to 77 first-half yards and 181 overall.

Canalez had two interceptions and Williams had one. Crespi scored the game’s only second half-touchdown late in the third period after an 80-yard drive. Smith culminated the march by rolling left then throwing to Romano, who made the 11-yard reception for his second touchdown, although the pass appeared to be intended for Kieling.

“Cody showed a lot of poise tonight,” Lins said. “He stepped up in the pocket pretty well and improved quite a bit.”

Joe Ruggiero, filling in for Lee, led Crespi’s ground attack with 57 yards in 10 carries.