MidValleySports.Com

Cayden Boyd led the Crusaders back with three touchdown passes

(Pasadena) – Village Christian rallied from a 21-0 deficit late in the third quarter, and ran off 26 consecutive points to shock La Salle 26-21 Friday night in the season opener.

Mistakes, missed tackles and penalties plagued the Crusaders though out the first half and into the third quarter before they finally got on track.

Village Christian turned the ball over four times, including three in the first half that allowed La Salle to jump out to the three touchdown advantage.

Kyle Lewis scored on a five yard run in the first quarter to put the Lancers up 7-0. After a Terrell Oliver interception of Village quarterback Cayden Boyd set up La Salle in Crusader territory, Israel Lacy scooted in on a seven yard run for a 14-0 Lancer lead.

Early in the third quarter Village moved the ball down to the La Salle 10 yard line. But Amjed Aboul- hosn plunged into the line and after a scramble, La Salle lineman Matt Barrero came out of the pile with the ball. 90 yards later he was racing into the end zone to put the Lancers up 21-0. There was still 11:41 left in the quarter, but things looked bleak for the Crusaders.

“We didn’t go into the tank after that. We came back and made plays. That’s what you have to do,” said Village Christian Coach Jay Shroeder. “I challenged them at half time and they responded.”

Respond they did. Later in the third, Boyd hit Tyler McGinnis on a screen pass and McGinnis outran the La Salle secondary for a 54 yard touchdown.

After a short pass and a penalty set up Village at the La Salle 33, they connected again. On the first play of the series Boyd hit McGinnis on an out pattern and McGinnis did the rest weaving his way 33 yards for a score early in the fourth.

La Salle turned it over again and VC cashed in. This time they marched 66 yards in just five plays. Scott Maxwell hauled in a 23 yard pass from Boyd and crossed the goal line. Shroeder decided to go for two but Aboul-hosn was stopped short and La Salle was clinging to a 21-20 lead.

It didn’t hold up. On the ensuing possession, Will Frankian picked off La Salle quarterback Michael Novell off of a tip and retuned it to the Lancer 16. Five plays later, Boyd kept it and plunged into the end zone from one yard out.

A two point conversion attempt again failed but it was enough for the Crusaders. La Salle moved the ball down to the Village 34 but a Novell pass fell incomplete on fourth down and it was celebration time for the Christians.

Aboul-hosn struggled early with two fumbles but ended up with 96 yards on 22 carries.

“You know what, I’m giving the ball to Amjed,” Shroeder said.

Boyd completed 9 of 12 for 173 yards and three scores. McGinnis caught four passes for 99 yards and a pair for touchdowns.

Austin Wallis started at quarterback for La Salle before Novell, who has been nursing a sore back, came on. Wallis completed nine passes for 111 yards. Lacy had 13 carries for 77 yards and a touchdown.  

VC 0  0  7  19     26

LS 7  7  7    0      21

1^st Qtr:

LS 3:43 Lewis 5 yd run (Rachel Albright Kick)

2^nd Qtr:

LS 4:58 Lacy 7 yd run (Albright Kick)

3^rd Qtr:

LS 8:20 Barrero 90 yd fum. Ret. (Albright Kick)

VC 2:13 McGinnis 54 yd pass from Boyd (Ken Chun Kick)

4^th Qtr:

VC 11:41 McGinnis 24 yd pass from Boyd (Chun Kick)

VC 6:22 Maxwell 23 yd pass from Boyd (2 Pt Failed)

VC 3:00 Boyd 1 yd run (2 pt Failed)