McNicoll Secures Victory for Crespi, 6-3

WOODLAND HILLS —  Defensive back Mike McNicoll intercepted a pass in the final seconds to secure a 6-3 victory for Crespi over Chaminade in a season opener Friday.

Crespi led the whole way on a five-yard second-quarter touchdown run by Blake Tibbetts. But Tibbetts nearly gave the game away when he dropped back to punt with just over a minute to play.

The snap came right to his belt, but Tibbetts lost the handle, recovered the ball and was thrown for a loss. That miscue gave Chaminade one final chance, and the Eagles got a 23-yard completion from Ray Rodriguez to Justin Stewart, setting up the last play from the Crespi 32.

Turnovers, penalties and sluggish execution marred both teams’ performance. Tibbetts led all rushers with 87 yards. Rodriguez went 7 for 18 for 131 yards.

Eight turnovers marred the scoreless second half. In the third quarter, the teams took turns being intercepted, with Crespi linebackers picking off two passes and Chaminade defensive back Justin Stewart grabbing another--all in a two-minute span. Crespi quarterback Kevin Cork also fumbled to kill a drive.

Chaminade committed 11 penalties for 85 yards, while Crespi drew five flags for 59. In the first half, both teams moved the ball fitfully, chewing up yards on some drives and undoing themselves with penalties and missed blocking assignments on others.

With 37 seconds to go in the first half, Nick Onesto brought Chaminade to within three points with a high-arching 41-yard field goal that nearly brushed the crossbar on the way down.

Tibbetts’ scoring run came with 6:44 left in the second quarter. Moments before punching it in off guard from the five, he exposed a seam in Chaminade’s left defensive front and rumbled 40 yards down to the Eagles’ 12. The point-after kick went wide left.

A 41-yard sideline connection from Rodriguez to James Green brought Chaminade to the Crespi 14 early in the game and they ultimately pushed the ball to the 2.

But a fumbled handoff exchange left them without a point.