Crestview rallies to stun Girard

November 9, 2014 at 12:08a.m.

NEW WATERFORD

Deficits of 14 points in the first quarter and nine in the second half didn’t faze the Crestview High School football team in Saturday’s Division V playoff opener against Girard.

Maybe postseason experience had something to do with it. The fourth-seeded Rebels (7-4) have qualified for the playoffs for seven straight seasons while the fifth-seeded Indians were making their first appearance since 2011.

“I don’t know if it did or didn’t, but our guys have been here over the last several years,” Crestview head coach Paul Cusick said after a 34-23 victory in the Region 15 quarterfinal. “Maybe there is something to that.

“Our guys just believed that they deserved to be here.”

Midway through the third quarter, Crestview’s running game came to life while the Indians (8-3) lost control. The Rebels, co-champions of the Inter Tri-County League Tier One, scored the final three touchdowns to advance to next week’s game against top-seeded Canton Central Catholic.

“You don’t understand how much we emphasize heart in this program,” senior wide receiver Evan Beachler said. “To be able to come out in the second half and do what we did is awesome.”

The Indians, second in the All-American Conference’s National Division, appeared to be well on their way early in the third quarter after Kyle Harris kicked a 22-yard field goal for a 23-14 lead.

Setting up the score was quarterback Christian Bello’s short toss to wide receiver Collin Cramer that turned into a 53-yard gain.

But holding the Indians to three points was the turning point, Cusick said.

“They got the huge play so I think giving up just giving up the field goal is a win for your defense,” Cusick said.

Penalties contributed to Girard’s implosion. A personal foul on a punt return gave the Rebels the ball at the Girard 32. Eight plays later, Zach Hicks’ 6-yard touchdown run cut Girard’s lead to 23-21.

The Indians then turned the ball over on downs at the Crestview 41 and an 11-play march put the Rebels ahead 27-23 on quarterback Jesse Best’s 1-yard touchdown run.

The Indians drove to the Rebels’ 36 where Bello was stopped on fourth-and-1 for no gain.

“Our kids did a good job of stuffing the run, especially in the fourth quarter,” Cusick said.

The Rebels sealed the victory when Best floated a pass over two Girard defenders to Tyler Stratton for a 36-yard touchdown.

The finish was much different from the start. Two touchdowns in 76 seconds had the Indians off to a flying start. Linebacker Kenny Walters recovered Stratton’s fumble at the Crestview 28. Four plays later, Bello scored from the 2 for a 7-0 lead.

After the Indians forced a three-and-out series, Collin Harden blocked Hicks’ punt and Walters recovered at the Crestview 2, setting up Jacob Ryser’s touchdown.

Big runs in the second quarter got the Rebels back into the game. Hicks escaped for a 38-yard touchdown and Best burst through the line for a 48-yard gain to the Girard 1, setting up Spencer DeSalvo’s game-tying touchdown.

“It was a slugfest,” Girard coach Pat Pearson said. “They run the ball well, they hit us on a couple of big runs.”

A minute before halftime, the Indians went back in front when Ryser took a pitch-out and scored a 31-yard touchdown for a 20-14 lead.