Second-half surge lifts Crusaders to win

Jesuit uses a 21-0 second-half edge to beat Beaverton 42-14 in both teams' Metro League openers

By Miles Vance

The Beaverton Valley Times, Oct 5, 2007, Updated Oct 30, 2009

MILES VANCE / Beaverton Valley Times

HERE IT COMES – Jesuit junior Austin Cheek returns a Beaverton punt 23 yards to the Beaver 14 to set up his team's second touchdown during the Crusaders' 42-14 victory at Jesuit High School on Friday night.

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BEAVERTON – Jesuit did what Jesuit does best in the second half of its Metro League opener against Beaverton on Friday -- it ran the ball like nobody's business.

Leading just 21-14 at halftime at Jesuit High School, the Crusaders pounded the ball at the Beavers on the ground in Friday's second half and scored three unanswered touchdowns to win 42-14. The win lifted third-ranked Jesuit to 1-0 in league play and 4-1 overall while the No. 9 Beavers fell to 0-1 and 3-2.

"They came out and played us really tough in the first half," said Jesuit senior tailback Rafael Lambert, who led his team with 118 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries Friday night. "At halftime, we said 'We've got to come out and establish the run because that's what Jesuit football's about, so our offensive line just took it upon themselves to go out and keep moving the ball."

And that's just what Jesuit did, marching 76 yards on its second possession of the third quarter to extend its lead to 28-14. On that drive, the Crusaders ran the ball on nine of their 12 plays, then capped the series on Scott Williams' 15-yard pass to Zane Norris in the right corner of the end zone. Williams went 7-of-12 passing for 100 yards Friday night.

Jesuit's Andrew Quinlan then picked off Beaverton quarterback Michael DeHaan (14-of-25 passing for 136 yards, two TDs and one interception), and two plays later, Lambert raced 55 yards up the middle to score and boost his team's advantage to 35-14.

"We just didn't come out with the intensity we needed to come out with to beat a good Jesuit team," said Beaverton senior linebacker Devin Fitzpatrick. "We're capable of beating them; we just need to work harder in practice and come out and finish the game."

DeHaan's two TD passes went to Doug Gilmore (6 yards) and Alex Corona (15 yards). Jesuit's other scores came from Lambert (on first-half runs of 3 and 2 yards), Keanon Lowe (on a 14-yard run) and Anthony Blake (on a 22-yard run).

For a complete game story and more photos, please see Thursday's edition of the Beaverton Valley Times.