By Jim Baranski
After Crete-Monee’s 55-26 Southland win at Rich Central on August 30, C-M coach John Konecki felt the season opener left the Warriors with areas to work on.
“It was great to get a win, but we definitely showed it was week one,” Koneck admitted. “We played a good team, but we were hurt by penalties.”
In spite of 79 yards in offensive penalties, all in the first half, Crete-Monee amassed 380 yards on the ground to go with 199 more yards via the air.
Quarterback Trayon Rudolph ran 16 times for 123 yards, scoring twice and passing for 175 yards as he clicked on 10-of-14 attempts and two touchdowns.
“The offensive line did a great job,” Rudolph said. “I had time to pass and holes to run through. I had some solid receivers.”
Up front for the Warriors were center Matthew Simpson, guards Saveyon Henderson and Jayden Roberts, along with tackles Bobby Winton, Xavier Slayton and Austin Haton. Meanwhile, Coy Hampton (6 catches, 107 yards) and Calvin Johnson (4 grabs, 62 yards) were the leading receivers, and each scored a touchdown.
Senior Mark Graziani was busy using that line, as he rambled for 119 yards on 13 carries and a touchdown.
“The line was providing great running lanes,” Graziani said. “I just had to read the blocks.”
Koby Walls (2-point conversion) and Ju-Juan Smith also ran for six-pointers.
“We have a great rotation of running backs,” Graziani assessed.
The Warriors went up 7-0 on their first possession. Highlighted by a 40-yard completion to Hampton and 28-yard scamper by Graziani, Rudolph capped the drive with a 4-yard run. Charles Smith booted the conversion.
Knocking on the door, the Warriors had a fumble on the snap from the RC 1. Kavon Jones used his speed to prevent a touchdown. Then Crete-Monee forced a punt, and Jones gathered it in at the 14 and raced 86 yards for the score and a 13-0 lead.
Following an Olympian touchdown that cut the lead to 13-7, the Warriors were on the march. Rudolph hit Jones in the flat for 30 yards, but Jones injured his elbow and had to leave the game.
“Kavon and I have been working so hard for this season,” Rudolph said of the multi-talented teammate. “I was pushing harder just for him.”
Graziani capped the drive with his 13-yard blast up the middle for a 19-7 lead.
Late in the first half, the Olympians were marching. However, on third-and-goal from the 9, Terry Elias made a leaping interception in the end zone.
“Terry is playing more on the outside this year,” Warrior middle linebacker Ray Arebalo said. “Jeremiah Johnson is in the middle with me.
“We have had some trouble with their passing,” Arebalo continued. “We are using a lot of new defensive players, and it will take some time to get things working smoothly.”
Crete-Monee followed the interception with an 80-yard run just before intermission. Rudolph passed 13 yards to Hampton on a quick slant for the score, and Walls ran for two. The Warriors led, 27-6, at intermission.
In their first series of the third quarter, the Warriors went on an 82-yard drive. Rudolph and Calvin Johnson sparked the march with a 35-yard gain on a wheel route up the right sideline. Later on fourth-and-8, the duo combined for a 17-yard score, and Caleb Treadwell tacked on two points on a run and a 35-7 lead.
The Olympians narrowed the gap to 35-14, but Crete-Monee responded, as Rudolph scrambled five yards along the left sideline for a score.
In the final period, the Warriors added touchdown runs by Ju-Juan Smith (4 yards) and Walls (10 yards), as Charles Smith kicked two more conversions.
The Warriors will be in action on September 6 at Kankakee. The Southland contest will kick off at 6:30 p.m.