Generous Opponent in Crespi Victory

It was sort of like Christmas for the Crespi football team Friday night during its 24-20 nonleague victory over Quartz Hill.

The Celts played hard on defense, controlled the ball on offense and in the end were rewarded with gifts

Crespi scored 24 consecutive points over the second and third quarters and took a 24-7 lead on a 22-yard run by Anthony Trejo with 2 minutes 37 seconds left in the third.

But the Rebels closed the gap to 24-20 on a 22-yard run by Jeremiah Harris, his third score of the game, with 4:04 left in the game.

The Rebels’ defense then stopped Crespi on three plays and forced a punt with 2:32 left to play.

Nick Rita, also the Celts’ punter, dropped the snap, but managed to get the punt off with five Rebels bearing down on him. They were flagged for a roughing penalty. Automatic first down Crespi, which ran out the clock.

“We had some things go our way but we outplayed them too,” Crespi Coach Tim Lins said.

The Rebels fumbled five times, three in the second half. Two of them led to Crespi scores.

“We work hard on stripping and we have some big hitters,” Celt defensive lineman Anthony Banovac said. “Our line was faster and in better condition.”

But the Crespi defense, spearheaded by Jordan Pembrook and Banovac, who made a big hit on Harris on a third-and-one play late in the second quarter and forced a Rebel punt.

Four plays later, Rita hit Fox on a 43-yard slant that was nicely set up by quick outs on the previous two plays. Fox caught five of Rita’s six first-half completions as the Celts took a 14-7 halftime lead.

The Crespi defense allowed Jeremiah Harris runs of 61 and 45 yards, but held the heralded Rebel rushing attack to 117 yards.