Crescent dominates Rejoice Christian
— It was over in a flash.
Senior running back Dylan Emery broke loose for a 32-yard touchdown run to put Crescent up 21-7 early in the first quarter and Rejoice Christian bumbled the following kickoff and was starting on its own 5 yard line.
That’s when senior linebacker Jacob Musil
stepped in to really seal the deal.
“I just felt like we were one big play from really making a statement,” Musil said. “With them pinned deep, we knew they would come out passing.”
Sure enough. Rejoice Christian quarterback Riley Walker dropped back and fired across the middle, but instead of finding a receiver, he found Musil patiently waiting.
Musil easily stepped in front of the pass and practically walked it in to make it 28-7 in the first quarter, practically sucking the life out of Owasso’s Rejoice Christian.
“I just read it the whole way,” Musil said. “The lane to the end zone was wide open and it was beautiful.”
Crescent cruised to a 63-21 victory against Rejoice in the second round of the Class A playoffs behind big plays from Musil, Emery, junior quarterback Hunter Bowers and a stingy defense that held Rejoice to negative yards rushing until late in the fourth quarter.
“They just really wanted to make a statement,”
Crescent coach J.L. Fisher said. “I don’t think they left a doubt in anyone’s mind.”
Fisher said Bowers was called upon to run more against a smaller Rejoice team because he wanted to use the combination of him, Emery and Musil, (all well over 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds) to pound Rejoice.
The plan worked as Crescent totaled 361 yards on 50 carries, Bowers had 18 carries for 151 yards and five total touchdowns, while Emory went for 157 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries.
“We are just a physical team and we really like to go after teams on the ground,” Bowers said. “We are probably one of the most physical teams in the state and tonight we showed it.”
Musil did a little bit of everything for Crescent, rushing four times for 37 yards and a touchdown, hauling in a 12-yard touchdown from Bowers while also scoring on an interception.
Crescent will face Oklahoma Christian Academy next week in the quarterfinals.
“I just went out there and tried to do my best,” Musil said. “We are a team, and I want to do all that I can for the team. We just take it one game at a time.”