HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: WEEK 3 : Barbour’s Two Touchdowns Lead Crespi to Win

Crespi High jump-started its running game and short-circuited Canyons’ when it mattered most.

The result was a 21-10 nonleague victory for the Celts on Friday night at Pierce College.

Crespi (2-1) came from behind to win on a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown runs by senior tailback Jamian Barbour, who finished with 102 yards in 27 carries after gaining only 41 yards in the first half.

Barbour capped a 10-play, 64-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run that gave Crespi a 14-10 lead with 10 minutes to play. Barbour ran two yards for an insurance touchdown with four minutes to play.

“I don’t know what happened in the first half, but we all came out in the second half fired up and ready to go,” Barbour said. “Everyone who touched the ball did well. If we did that from the beginning of the game, the score would have been double what it was.”

Crespi’s defense did the rest, bending but not breaking while holding Canyon (1-2) to 154 yards--all but seven on the ground.

Crespi stopped Canyon three times on fourth down, twice in Crespi territory.

The game’s turning point, however, might have come after a 19-yard run by Canyon tailback Monte McKeon gave the Cowboys a first down at the 50-yard line with four minutes to play in the first half and Canyon trailing, 7-0.

McKeon suffered an injured right collarbone while being tackled and was forced to leave the game. He did not return.

“It’s really sore,” McKeon said. “I’m going for X-rays.”

Carlos Soria capped the drive with a 37-yard field goal.

In the third quarter, Jim Phillips intercepted a pass by Crespi quarterback Todd McLean and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown to give Canyon a 10-7 lead.

Canyon fullback Shaun Kelso led all rushers with 114 yards in 14 carries. But his contribution wasn’t enough.

“I told [my players] I’m tired of seeing them play so hard and lose,” said Canyon Coach Larry Mohr, who conducted a lengthy post-game meeting. “Our defense might have gotten a little tired toward the end.”

McLean helped balance the Celts’ attack by completing 12 of 20 passes for 93 yards. He also scored Crespi’s first touchdown on a one-yard sneak in the first quarter.

On that drive, Crespi drove 61 yards in 10 plays. McLean was two for two, hitting Erick Gerencher and Ryan Block for gains of four and eight yards. McLean’s pass to Block on a fourth-and-six play gave the Celts a first down at the Canyon 27.

Barbour carried on the next five plays, driving Crespi to the one-yard line and another fourth down. But McLean wedged into the end zone for the touchdown. Barbour accounted for 26 yards rushing on the drive.

Canyon drove from its 43 to Crespi’s 37 before McKeon was stacked up on fourth down by Crespi’s Ron Quarterman.

Canyon drove inside Crespi territory in the final four minutes of the half, thanks to McKeon’s run and a 43-yard bolt by Kelso that gave Canyon a first down at the seven.

The drive stalled, however, because of an illegal procedure penalty, a sack of quarterback Ahjeron Palmer and a broken play. Soria salvaged the drive with a field goal.

Block caught four passes for 48 yards and Dennis Fox caught five for 20 yards.

Gerencher caught two passes for 19 yards.