COLONY — The Crest High School football team used a valiant first half effort to take down Norwich in their eight-man 2A opening round playoff game on Thursday, 60-40.
The Lancers (7-2; 1-0) jumped out to a 40-point 52-12 advantage midway through the second half which quickly evaporated into a 12-point lead halfway through the fourth quarter. Norwich was able to take advantage of a pair of onside kick recoveries as well as a Crest fumble.
Crest put the game away when Holden Barker rushed in for a 20-yard touchdown to give his home team the 20-point victory.
Norwich began the scoring on their opening drive of the night when Brayden Pauly rushed into the end zone from 35 yards away for the quick 6-0 Eagle advantage.
Barker helped the Lancers respond immediately with an 11-yard touchdown run, followed up by a successful two-point conversion for the 8-6 Crest lead.
“His running style is fighting,” said Crest head coach Nick McAnulty. “He’s one that you’re going to have to fight him for every inch because he’s going to fight and keep his feet moving. Everything he does, he’s planning on winning. I’ve never seen anyone with his type of running style because he wants the contact and he’s not trying to avoid anybody.”
Lancer quarterback Ethan Godderz was able to connect with Stetson Setter on a 50-yard touchdown down the away sideline on the next Crest drive to stretch the lead to 10 points, 16-6.
Godderz also found Karter Miller down the home sideline for a 60-yard touchdown strike. Crest converted the two-point conversion and took a comfortable 24-6 lead at the end of the first quarter.
It was a similar sight in the second quarter as Godderz fired a touchdown bullet to Setter down the sideline again, this time for a 45-yard touchdown pass. The Lancers had a 32-6 advantage after another successful two-point conversion.
Setter then stepped up defensively when he intercepted a Norwich pass at the Lancer 11-yard line to keep the Eagles from driving too far down the field. The turnover proved costly as Barker scampered into the end zone 29 yards out for the 32-point, 38-6 lead.
“We showed what we are capable of,” said McAnulty. “It was great to see us come out and start like that. They are a physical group of kids and you love to see that. That’s the way the game is supposed to be played. They want to hit people, they don’t take plays off.”
Norwich found the end zone before the half as Jace Gosch tiptoed in a 23-yard touchdown rush to cut the deficit to 38-12.
Just when the game was about to be sent to halftime, Crest’s Setter returned the next kickoff 75 yards for yet another Lancer touchdown and the 46-12 lead.
Crest kept up the attack following halftime when Godderz found Setter for a 15-yard touchdown pass for the 52-12 lead. Godderz finished his playoff performance throwing for four touchdowns and 217 passing yards while Setter hauled in three touchdown receptions and 153 receiving yards.
“Those guys are really good friends and I think that translates into this. Ethan has a big trust in Stetson that he’s going to throw the ball and Stetson’s going to win that battle,” McAnulty said. “There’s lots of times Stetson’s going to win that battle and Ethan’s throwing the ball well right now. The O-line did a great job I thought too.”
