Columbus Crusaders take down Noblesville Lions 47-20

Tagged under: Beyond The Keystone, Game Photos, Gameday Hub, News

David Burnworth | October 15, 2023

Round one of the Great Lakes Christian Conference playoffs took place on a cold, windy, and wet afternoon in Grove City, Ohio where the Columbus Crusaders hosted Noblesville Lions out of Indiana. In the first game between the two teams, Columbus overwhelmed the Lions 41-8.

Columbus would need just three plays to get the scoring started when Austin Bauer did his best Tommie Frazier impression by running for a 32-yard touchdown. Dezjuan Noakes used his foot to make this a 7-0 game as his point after kick was true.

The Lions responded on the ensuing kickoff when Wade Edwards took off like he had been shot out of a cannon and did not stop until he had gone 95 yards for the score he would convert a two-point conversion to give the visitors the lead at 8-7.

Bauer would find Mykell Andrews for a 25-yard gain to kickstart the Crusaders next drive. Later during the drive, Columbus faced a fourth and five converting it when Bauer connected with Jerich Etok to move the Chians with a 10-yard gain. The nine-play, sixty-two-yard drive ended on a 5-yard touchdown run by Ezekiel Bowie to give Columbus the 14-8 lead with 3:23 left in the fast-paced exciting opening quarter.

The Lions began their next drive on their own 30-yard line, the drive lasted for one play when Edwards made like Emmit Smith by going for the 70-yard touchdown to make this a 14-13 game with 3:02 showing on the clock.

Just twelve seconds into the second quarter the Lions would go for it on fourth and four the result was not what they wanted because Etok swatted away the Joe Young’s pass to force a turnover on downs.

With the rain coming down, the temperature dropping, and the wind blowing many in the smallish crowd brought out umbrellas showing little respect for the fans sitting behind them causing many to miss the 50-yard touchdown run that Andrews had to put Columbus up 20-14 with 7:44 showing on the clock.

At the 5:04 mark, the Lions were able to work the ball to the Crusaders 14-yard line when Young found Nick Wheeler. Later in the quarter, Daniel Pacheco got to Edwards for a loss of three. The clock would read 2:30 when the Lions faced another fourth and four and this time they were able to move the chains when Young found Wheeler. Edwards would be tackled for a loss on his next two carries when John Walters got to him for a loss of five and then Etok hit him for a loss of three. The long drive that lasted for 15 plays that only totaled 15 yards due to penalties and negative yardage plays ended when Young was sacked by Nico Lopez with forty-six seconds left in the half.

Columbus used a 48-yard completion by Bauer to Andrews to aid in setting up the 27-yard touchdown pass to Etok. The drive went for 85 yards needing just four plays and made the halftime score 27-14 Columbus.

After Bauer hit Walters for 17 yards the Crusaders used a little trickery to pick up 30-yards. Bauer hit Andrews, who pitched the ball to a teammate (view blocked by Umbrellas). Bauer capped off the drive with a 6-yard touchdown pass to Etok to make this a 33-14 game with 10:19 remaining in the third.

Walters was able to come up with an interception for Columbus when he caught a Yong pass that was tipped, after the catch he was able to take it to the two-yard line to set the offense up for the easy score. Bauer would run the ball in from three yards out after the Lions forced a one-yard loss on the drive’s first play to make this a 40-14 game.

A Bowie 22-yard run was able to keep the Columbus offense on the field the drive would end on a ten-yard Bauer touchdown run to make this a 47-14 game heading into the final frame.

The Lions with the running clock would put together an 11-play, 74-yard scoring drive that saw one of their running backs to score from two yards out. The back in question wore #86 but was not on the roster. The last big play of the game came on a 20-yard run by Bowie

My Stats

Lions

50 Plays

158 Yards

Passing, 3-6 1 Int

Crusaders

45 Plays

393 Yrds

Passing, 9-7 2 TDs.