Lins Moves Crespi in Passing Lane, 28-13

Crespi High quarterback David Lins looked at Canyon’s defense on film and his eyes got as big as saucers.

“They play a loose three (defensive backfield) and rush only four people,” Lins said. “I felt pretty pumped when I got out here.”

He played like it. Lins led Crespi to a 28-13 victory at Canyon High by completing 26 of 35 passes for 285 yards and a touchdown. The Cowboys couldn’t stop Lins, who completed passes in bunches: seven, five and six in a row.

Canyon’s concern with Lins--who usually hooked up with wide receivers Jeff DeFinney (12 receptions, 114 yards) and Wayne Emerson (seven catches, 107 yards)--opened up the Crespi running game.

Jamian Barbour was the happy recipient of several huge holes. The junior rushed for 166 yards and three touchdowns in 23 carries. He raced 59 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the game.

“Canyon is usually a crazy team--they go all out on every play, they jump over piles,” Lins said. “They weren’t like that tonight. Maybe scoring on the first play had something to do with that.”

The Celts (2-1) routed the Cowboys (0-3) in total offense, 462-225, but it was anybody’s ballgame at halftime. Crespi led, 14-13, before putting the game out of reach in the second half with a strong defense that held Cowboy quarterback Ahjeron Palmer to six of 18 passes for 55 yards. Palmer gained 74 yards in 10 carries.

Leading, 7-0, in the first quarter, Crespi had first-and-goal at the two when Barbour fumbled and Canyon’s Nathan Blade recovered.

After Blade’s recovery, Canyon made it 7-7 by moving 95 yards in four plays, Palmer racing 46 yards for the touchdown on a bootleg.

Canyon’s Jeff McKinley (eight carries for 61 yards) scored on a six-yard run in the second quarter, but after a two-point conversion pass failed, it was all Crespi.

Barbour had a 16-yard scoring run to make it 14-7 prior to McKinley’s score, and Barbour added a one-yarder in the fourth quarter. Lins’ lone touchdown pass was a five-yarder to Todd McLean in the third quarter that made it 21-13.