RTCA Drops Close Game To St. Andrews
The Crusaders football team of Robert Toombs Christian Academy hosted the Lions of St. Andrews last Wednesday night. The game was moved due to the threat of Hurricane Ian.
It was a slow start for both teams as neither could get the offenses going early in this game. RTCA had to punt the ball on their first possession of the game, but quickly got the ball back when Justin Powell jumped on a Lion fumble with 8:30 left in the first quarter.
Elijah Baker follwed that with a good run down to the Lion 30-yard line. RTCA made it to the 20-yard line, but then fumbled the ball back over to St. Andrews.
But as the first quarter was closing, RTCA began to find their rhythm with runs from Aaron Handerson and Powell to move well into the Lions' territory. Early in the second RTCA had pushed the ball to the 5-yard line, and capped off the drive with a run by Powell with 9:23 left in the first half. Justin Bowers tacked on the extra point for a 7-0 lead.
RTCA got on the scoreboard again in the second period after recovering the ensuing kickoff at the 32-yard line of the Lions. Quarterback TJ Stanley scored from 12-yards out with 6:10 left in the half. Bowers made the PAT to put RTCA on top 14-0.
The Lions scored their first touchcontinued from page
down with just 16 seconds remaining in the half when quarterback Zayden Edwards dove into the end zone from just 1-yard out. That closed the Crusader lead to 14-7 at the half.
In the third quarter of the game the Lions tied the game as they finished off a drive with a 23-yard run by Zyere Edwards. With the PAT the game was tied at 14-14.
St. Andrews took the lead for the first time in the game with 1:26 left in the third quarter when Zayden Edwards scored on an 8-yard run. The PAT was good to put the Lions on top 21-14.
In the fourth period the Crusaders tied the game at 21-21 when Justin Powell scored his second touchdown of the game from 33-yards out. Bowers added the extra point.
The Lions came right back and took the lead again with 9:18 remaining in the game when running back Zyere Edwards ran straight up the middle from 65-yards out. They added the extra point for a 28-21 lead.
The Crusaders had two more chances to make a comeback but fell short. The Crusaders fumbled the ball on offense that the Lions recovered with just 5:34 left in the game. On the Crusaders next offensive possession, the Lions sacked Stanley on fourth down and took the ball over with 39 seconds left and then ran out the clock to secure the win for the Lions, 28-21.
The Crusaders fall to 3-4 for the season and will be back on the road to face Frederica Academy this Friday in St. Simons at 7:30 p.m.
The Crusaders’ Aaron Hankerson avoids one tackle and then turns upfield for a solid gain as RTCA hosts St. Andrews.Photo by Mike Branch
