2008 Woodie Awards
Crusaders fall to Mountain Lions
Issue date: 11/9/05 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
David Sons
Guest Writer
The North Greenville Crusader football team took its eighth loss of the season 37-34 against the Concord University Mountain Lions in Athens, W.Va. on Nov. 5.
As the game began, the Crusaders looked well on their way to an easy victory, storming ahead 14-0 early in the first quarter, behind the power running attack of running back Travis Mosely, junior sport management. Mosely, the Crusaders' go-to guy this season, finished the game with 40 carries for 212 yards and four touchdowns.
The Crusader defense also forced three Mountain Lion fumbles in the first half, led by the show-stopper Isaac Tate, senior business administration. The Crusader defense did not allow Concord to score until well into the second quarter. However, Concord University came alive, rolling off 16 unanswered points and wrenching the lead away from the Crusaders at halftime 16-14.
Concord was led by the phenomenal play of senior quarterback Ryan Pimental, who finished the day 24-35 for 485 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions. Concord University continued their dominant play early in the second half, scoring on their opening drive to stretch the lead 23-14.
Once again, the Crusaders struck back. Following another Mosely touchdown, North Greenville cut the lead by two points. The comeback was short-lived as Concord was able to score late in the period and held a 30-21 advantage at the end of the third quarter. The fourth quarter began with a scoring frenzy, but the Crusaders managed to keep pace with the Lions.
Down only 10, 37-27, with just under 12 minutes to go in the game, the offense rallied around quarterback Eric Moeller, senior mathematics, who played most of the last quarter with a left hip pointer. Moeller hooked up with receiver Travis Neesmith, freshman business administration, on a five-yard touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter to cut the Mountain Lion lead to only three, 37- 34, with just under 6 minutes to go in the game.
Back and forth these two teams went, neither team willing to concede the game, as the Crusaders got the ball in time to mount one final drive. Starting on their own 23-yard line the Crusaders marched down the field and were met with a fourth and two on the Concord 17 yard line with only 30 seconds remaining. With the clock ticking toward zero, Crusader Head Coach Mike Taylor sent the field goal unit, led by place kicker Adrian Escalona, sophomore accounting, onto the field with a chance to send the game into overtime. The snap was high and the hold bobbled as Escalona's kick was blocked setting off a mad scramble for the ball. The Crusaders have a 2-8 record for this season.
Guest Writer
The North Greenville Crusader football team took its eighth loss of the season 37-34 against the Concord University Mountain Lions in Athens, W.Va. on Nov. 5.
As the game began, the Crusaders looked well on their way to an easy victory, storming ahead 14-0 early in the first quarter, behind the power running attack of running back Travis Mosely, junior sport management. Mosely, the Crusaders' go-to guy this season, finished the game with 40 carries for 212 yards and four touchdowns.
The Crusader defense also forced three Mountain Lion fumbles in the first half, led by the show-stopper Isaac Tate, senior business administration. The Crusader defense did not allow Concord to score until well into the second quarter. However, Concord University came alive, rolling off 16 unanswered points and wrenching the lead away from the Crusaders at halftime 16-14.
Concord was led by the phenomenal play of senior quarterback Ryan Pimental, who finished the day 24-35 for 485 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions. Concord University continued their dominant play early in the second half, scoring on their opening drive to stretch the lead 23-14.
Once again, the Crusaders struck back. Following another Mosely touchdown, North Greenville cut the lead by two points. The comeback was short-lived as Concord was able to score late in the period and held a 30-21 advantage at the end of the third quarter. The fourth quarter began with a scoring frenzy, but the Crusaders managed to keep pace with the Lions.
Down only 10, 37-27, with just under 12 minutes to go in the game, the offense rallied around quarterback Eric Moeller, senior mathematics, who played most of the last quarter with a left hip pointer. Moeller hooked up with receiver Travis Neesmith, freshman business administration, on a five-yard touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter to cut the Mountain Lion lead to only three, 37- 34, with just under 6 minutes to go in the game.
Back and forth these two teams went, neither team willing to concede the game, as the Crusaders got the ball in time to mount one final drive. Starting on their own 23-yard line the Crusaders marched down the field and were met with a fourth and two on the Concord 17 yard line with only 30 seconds remaining. With the clock ticking toward zero, Crusader Head Coach Mike Taylor sent the field goal unit, led by place kicker Adrian Escalona, sophomore accounting, onto the field with a chance to send the game into overtime. The snap was high and the hold bobbled as Escalona's kick was blocked setting off a mad scramble for the ball. The Crusaders have a 2-8 record for this season.