Photo by Jordan Haiduk
Micah Smith of Crest High runs the ball down the middle against Hartford Friday night.
When Logan Grieder blocked a punt that fell right into the hands of Layne Higgins on Friday night at Hartford against Crest, the touchdown gave the Jaguars the lead and some hope.
Higgins had scored the first touchdown of his life, and, hey, it was homecoming — maybe fate would be on the side of Hartford. But Crest apparently doesn’t believe in fairy tales, and the Lancers crushed the Jaguars’ hope, quarterback and defensive line on their way to a 58-8 mercy-rule victory.
“We played well while we believed,” Hartford coach Dave Wasylk said. “Once we stopped believing, we didn’t play quite as well.”
Hartford had a chance to add to its 8-6 lead early in the second quarter. The Jaguars were driving and Adam Ewy had a clear running lane when he rolled out of the pocket on third down. Ewy decided to throw instead and the pass fell incomplete. Wasylk kept his offense on the field and went for it on 4th-and-4 near midfield. Ewy fumbled and the Lancers scored four plays later to take a 12-8 lead.
“I’m pressing a little bit there as a coach and went ahead and went for it on fourth down and didn’t get it deep in our own territory,” Wasylk said. “When you’re overmatched up front and you need everything going your way, you sure don’t want to give them any momentum and that was a big momentum swing their way.”
Crest scored on its next three possessions before half and entered halftime leading 34-8.
After Ewy’s fumble, the Jaguars’ offense had minus-4 yards the rest of the half.
“I figured hopefully the momentum would keep us rolling,” Wasylk said, “but one bad thing led to another and it just snowballed.”
Things only got worse in the second half for the Jaguars. Crest’s Brandon Newton opened the third quarter with a 79-yard kick return touchdown to give the Lancers a 40-8 lead. Hartford went three and out and then Bryan Newton scored one of his three touchdowns.
Photo by Jordan Haiduk
Micah Smith of Crest High runs the ball down the middle against Hartford Friday night.
Bryan Newton followed his touchdown with an interception of Adam Ewy on Hartford’s next play and then scored on a 20-yard touchdown three plays later.
Ewy, who entered the game as the Lyon County League’s leading rusher, was held to minus-12 yards rushing and 26 yards passing. Ewy also had a fumble and threw three interceptions.
“My turnovers did not help at all,” Ewy said. “That’s the main key right there, turning the ball over; I can’t do that.”
Ewy’s turnovers didn’t help, but it’s tough to put the blame on the junior quarterback. The Lancers ran for 266 yards and scored on their final eight possessions.
“Basically they just ran up the middle, ran up the middle,” Higgins said. “That’s about it.”
Hartford had not been mercy-ruled since the last game of last season against Madison. Madison won its third straight game by the mercy rule on Friday, and Hartford hosts Madison next Friday.
Friday at Hartford
Crest 6 28 24 — 58
Hartford 8 0 0 — 8
First quarter
C — Ramsey 1 run (conversion failed)
H — Higgins 22 punt block return (Wilson run)
Second quarter
C — Newton 5 run (conversion failed)
C — Smith 6 run (conversion failed)
C — Smith 4 run (Johnston run)
C — Milner 33 pass from Johnston (Ramsey run)
Third quarter
C — Newton 79 punt return (conversion failed)
C — Newton 6 run (conversion failed)
C — Newton 20 run (conversion failed)
C — Smith 1 run
GAME STATISTICS
C H
First downs 15 2
Rushes-yards 40-266 25-4
Comp.-Att.-Int. 3-8-1 3-11-3
Pass yards 67 26
Total yards 30 333
Fumbles-lost 0-0 1-1
Penalties-yards 2-20 1-1
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing — C: Newton 16-120, Ramsey 11-80, Smith 9-43, Johnston 4-23; H: Wilson 10-12, Smith 3-4, Ewy 12-minus 12.
Passing — C: Johnston 3-8-1 67; H: Ewy 3-11-3 26.
Receiving — C: Milner 3-67; H: Grieder 2-27, Wilson 1-minus 1.
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