Crespi Comeback Falls Short, 21-14

As long as Cody Smith had at least one good leg, it seemed Crespi High still had a chance.

Limping noticeably because of strained ligaments in his left foot, Smith brought the Celts back to within seven points of Villa Park with a little more than three minutes left in Friday night’s Southern Section Division II playoff opener.

Then he waited nervously for one more opportunity.

It never came.

Crespi seemingly had forced a punt by stopping Don Bladow on third down with 1 minute 40 seconds to play, but linebacker Brian Getz was flagged for spearing, giving the Spartans a first down and preserving their 21-14 victory at Pierce College.

It was a disappointing end to Smith’s career at Crespi.

“I’ve played three years here and I’ve never gotten past the first round,” said Smith, whose teams lost to Edison and Leuzinger in 1989 and 1990. “I’m confused and I’m frustrated.”

Smith’s teammates appeared much the same way in the second half against Villa Park. The Celts (7-4), who were Mission League champions but lost their final two games, took a 7-0 lead into the third period but couldn’t stop the Spartans in the second half.

Villa Park (8-3), a Century League tri-champion, put together three long scoring drives after halftime.

Ryan Tsui, who had a game-high 142 yards in 28 carries, capped an 80-yard march with a two-yard touchdown run in the third period. Joe Hernandez’s point-after kick tied the score, 7-7.

The Spartans stopped Crespi and drove 92 yards in 13 plays, Tsui carrying on the final six plays and scoring on a one-yard run with 10:32 left.

Villa Park, which has not allowed more than 14 points in a game this season, stopped Crespi again and embarked on another 80-yard drive, taking a 21-7 lead when Alex Strapp threw a 20-yard scoring pass to tight end Jason Braun.

Strapp completed six of 11 passes for 151 yards and one touchdown.

Smith, who completed 16 of 28 for 176 yards and two touchdowns, drove the Celts 58 yards in 10 plays and fired an eight-yard touchdown pass to Joe Ruggiero on a fourth-and-goal play, but it wasn’t enough.

Villa Park held Crespi to 69 yards rushing. Torie Lee led the Celts with 65 yards in 19 carries.

Smith, who completed 10 of 13 for 96 yards in the first half, put Crespi ahead in the second period when he drove the Celts 85 yards in 12 plays and tossed a four-yard touchdown pass to tight end Alex Pupich. Bach Stabile, who earlier had missed wide right on a 29-yard field-goal attempt, booted the extra point to give Crespi a 7-0 lead midway through the second quarter.

Pupich was a big factor in Crespi’s offense in the first half, catching seven passes for 73 yards and the touchdown. But he was held without a reception in the second half.

Smith was injured on the final play of the first half after scrambling to find a receiver and taking a one-yard sack. His foot was heavily taped at halftime, and he had difficulty putting pressure on it.

“It took away some of the things we could do with our passing game,” Smith said.

Although he didn’t agree with the controversial spearing call on Getz, Crespi Coach Tom Lins refused to criticize the official.

“That’s the way it goes,” he said.