Crusaders Rout Lions On Rainy Homecoming Night
The Robert Toombs Christian Academy Crusaders football team delivered a dominant 41-8 victory over the St. Andrews Lions at McLendon Field on a raindrenched Friday, pushing their season record to a respectable 3- 3.
More than just a win, the night celebrated the school's Homecoming, with Madeleine Wolfe crowned Queen and Jayden Butterworth named Princess during halftime ceremonies.
On the field, the Crusaders proved their mettle with an explosive offense and a suffocating defense that held the Lions to just one early touchdown. Quarterback Drew Edwards was the catalyst, efficiently tossing two touchdowns while adding three more on the ground. The defense was relentless, creating turnovers and stifling the St. Andrews attack all evening.
The Lions surprisingly drew first blood after a rocky first-possession turnover by RTCA, converting it into an 8-0 lead. But the Crusaders quickly settled the score. Edwards punched in a quarterback keeper on a first-and-goal, and Hayden Meeks drilled the extra point for his 100th high school career PAT, bringing the score to 8-7. On the very next possession, Edwards connected with Meeks for a passing touchdown and a successful PAT, giving RTCA the 14-8 lead they wouldn't relinquish. continued from page
The second quarter was a defensive clinic. Key tackles by Jordan Randall and an interception by Brittan Tabor set up another Edwards touchdown, extending the lead to 20-8. RTCA continued to pile on in the third and fourth quarters, with major offensive contributions from Edwards, Meeks, and Brown, ultimately cruising to the 41-8 final.
'I'm proud of the way our boys came out and executed on a good Homecoming night,' said RTCA Head Coach Matthew Meeks. 'They collected themselves and battled through the elements. I'm proud of the discipline they played with and their ability to compete against a triple option football team where you must be assignment- sound on defense.'
The decisive victory signals that the Crusaders are a team hitting its stride as the season enters its second half. However, Coach Meeks is already focused on the next challenge: 'We have a tough game this upcoming Friday against Frederica—another game where we have to be assignment-sound and disciplined.'
RTCA will host the Knights of Frederica Academy on Friday night with kickoff at 7:30 p.m. This is the final nonregion game of the year for RTCA, as they will kick off their Region schedule next week against Southwest Georgia Academy on the road.
