Williams’ Fourth-Down Dash Against Chaminade Seals Crespi Victory

In a battle of two of the area’s best running backs, it was no surprise that a big run iced Friday night’s game between Chaminade and Crespi highs.

Shaun Williams scored on a 58-yard run on a fourth-and-one play with 2 minutes 24 seconds to play, sealing Crespi’s 27-15 nonleague victory at Pierce College.

Williams finished with 219 yards in 29 carries, outdueling Chaminade’s Franklin Saunders, who gained 186 yards in 29 carries.

After the seesaw game, the two backs hugged at midfield.

Williams’ run erased what might have been a crucial mistake. With Crespi (1-2) ahead, 20-15, and 6:34 to play, Williams fumbled at the Crespi 19.

Chaminade (1-2) could not score, however. Crespi’s Vito Clemente deflected a fourth-down pass in the end zone, preserving the lead and giving Crespi the ball for Williams’ big run.

“I told (Clemente) thanks for saving me,” Williams said. “I’d hate to lose because of my mistake.”

The rest of Crespi’s offense came from quarterback Dave Lins, who completed 12 of 19 passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns. Mike Glendenning caught eight passes for 92 yards and one touchdown.

Chaminade quarterback Clint Tanner completed eight of 18 passes for 102 yards. Adam Crecion caught five passes for 48 yards.

The Celts controlled the early part of the game, taking the lead on Williams’ 35-yard run with 8:44 to play in the first quarter.

Crespi took a 14-0 lead with 10:40 to play in the half, when Patrick Jeffries caught a five-yard touchdown pass from Lins. Back-to-back penalties on the two-point conversion attempt pushed Crespi back 10 yards, but the Celts made it anyway when Williams took a pitch and hit a wide-open Joe Dowd with a pass in the end zone.

Chaminade’s lone first-half score came on the ensuing possession and was the result of a Celt coverage breakdown. Kevin Murkey beat Williams and had no defenders within 15 yards of him when he caught Tanner’s pass and scored from 32 yards.

The Eagles took a 15-14 lead early in the third quarter, when Saunders scored on a 19-yard run. A Crespi penalty on the conversion moved the Eagles to the 1 1/2, so Chaminade gave the ball to Saunders for the two-point conversion.

Crespi was penalized 12 times for 115 yards.

The Celts took a 20-15 lead when Lins hit Glendenning with a 12-yard touchdown pass with 11:19 to play.