Bishop Amat Catches Crespi in the Middle

Except for the in-between time, Crespi High played the state’s top-ranked football team dead even Friday night. Unfortunately for the Celts, there is much more to a football game than a beginning and an end.

Bishop Amat junior quarterback James Free proved that best, throwing three touchdown passes and virtually having his way with the Celts’ secondary in the second and third quarters to fuel the Lancers’ 35-7 victory over Crespi in a Del Rey League opener at Pierce College.

The Celts (3-3, 0-1 in league play) set the pace in the beginning, scoring on a seven-yard run by Shaun Williams (30 carries, 94 yards) on Crespi’s second possession.

The Crespi sideline was further inspired on Bishop Amat’s ensuing possession when defensive back Vito Clemente broke up a touchdown pass in the end zone on fourth and 11 at the Crespi 25.

But the Celts had to know it was too good to last. And if they didn’t, Free, who completed eight of 16 for 227 yards, was there to remind them.

Bishop Amat (6-0, 1-0) scored on consecutive plays--two Free passes--less than three minutes into the second quarter to claim a 14-7 lead. Free threw a quick sideline pass toward wide receiver Daylon McCutcheon, and when Clemente stepped up to try for an interception, McCutcheon turned, tucked the ball away and darted 55 yards down the Crespi sideline for the Lancers’ first touchdown.

On the Lancers’ first play of their next possession at the 13, Free connected with Ernesto Arredondo in stride on a post pattern for an 87-yard touchdown.

Free’s 24-yard touchdown pass to running back Rodney Sermons, who was nursing an ankle injury, and a 58-yard interception return by Ramogi Huma gave Bishop Amat a 28-7 lead late in the third quarter.