Cranbrook blanks University Liggett 41-0; marches on to Catholic League Championship at Ford Field.

DE Chris Smith, LB Jack Fairman, and DT Danny Files led the Cranes defense in a shutout over University Liggett.

The Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Cranes defeated the Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett Knights in their final CHSL Intersectional I divisional game. The win gives Cranbrook a sweep of all divisional opponents, and lands them a berth in the Prep Bowl next week at Ford Field.

The Knights took the fight to the Cranes early, moving 60 yards down the field on their first drive to the Cranbrook 20. But the Cranbrook defense would stiffen, forcing a turnover on downs.

Marching down 80 yards on their first drive, the Cranes opened the scoring on a 7-yard pass from senior QB Trevor McConnell to junior WR Kobi Russell with 6:52 left in the 1st qtr.

After a quick Liggett series that ended with a punt, the Cranes would find the end zone again, this time on a 32-yard scamper by junior RB Murrari Nelluri. The Cranes would lead 13-0 with 5:33 left to play in the 1st.

On the next series, sophomore LB Jack Fairman would intercept a Liggett pass play and return it 37 yards for a touchdown. Cranbrook led 20-0 with 3:09 left to play in the first quarter.

McConnell would find junior WR Torrell Williams open in the end zone and complete a 15-yard TD pass play. The Cranes led 27-0 as the 1st quarter ended.

In the second quarter, the Cranes would score twice more. Nelluri would find daylight on a running play for a 68-yard TD.

Sophomore RB Tariq Muhammad would punch in a 1-yard run, culminating a 50-yard drive for Cranbrook.

The Cranes led 41-0 at the half.

While both teams would march up and down the field in the second half, there would be no further scoring.

Senior QB Trevor McConnell was 5 for 6 on 108 yards and 2 TD's, Junior RB Murrai Nelluri ran for 146 yards on 11 carries and 2 TDs. Junior WR Kobi Russell had 2 catches for 52 yards and 1 TD.

Sophomore LB Jack Fairman had 6 tackles and a 57 yard INT for a TD. Senior DE Chris Smith had 1 TFL and 1 sack. Russell and Junior SS Torrell Williams both had 1 INT.

Sophomore QB Ian Narva had 13 completions on 38 attempts for 167 yards for Liggett. He was also 12 for 42 yards rushing.

The Cranes march on to face Clarkston Everest Collegiate next week in the Catholic League Championship at Ford Field.