But the moment the clocked down to 0:00, all the talk wasn’t about Friday night’s win, rather next Friday’s huge GISA Region 3-AAA showdown with Southland.
“(Facing Southland) is like an SEC game for us,” said senior Patrick Miller. ”We want to work hard this week and go up to Americus and take care of business.”
On Friday, there was plenty of T.C.B. for the Knights.
The Knights surged to a 39-0 lead in the first half with all cylinders hitting.
The game opened with a 92-yard kick-off return by senior Matt Mercer — and with that, the flood gates were opened.
After the Crusaders went three and out on their opening drive, junior running back Tony Zenon carried the ball three times for 42 yards, the last a three-yard TD dive with 8:01 to pay in the first period. Mercer added the point after to put the Knights up 13-0.
On the ensuing Crusader drive, Knights senior linebacker Matt Woodall picked off a pass and returned it 18 yards for a score at the 7:08 mark. Then Miller scored his first touchdown of the season from one-yard out with 3:47 in the opening frame to put the Knights ahead, 26-0.
“I wanted that score bad,” said Miller. “The line opened a huge hole.”
In two quarters of action Zenon racked up 137 yards on six carries, and scored on runs of 3, 37 and 21 yards.
Zenon has been coach Allen Lowe’s most powerful offensive weapon all season totaling 1,175 yards on the ground and 14 rushing touchdown — a point he is certain won’t get past Southland Academy next week.
“It is a huge region game, and a long standing rivalry,” Lowe said. “I am certain they will be keying on Tony.”
Senior quarterback Tommy Forrestal went 3-of-5 for 68 yards, Mercer hauled in two catches for 48 yards and senior Andy Clack had one catch for 20.
“We worked hard on getting everything to click,” said Forrestal. “It was good to have that chance before Southland. They have been a rivalry game for us since the sixth grade.”
The Raiders were off Friday and each team will enter next Friday’s game with two losses.
