The Cranes gain rushing yards in their 27-13 win over Windsor Holy Names.
(Photo Credit- S. Fairman)
The Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Cranes defeated the Windsor Holy Names Knights 27-13 in a non-conference match up. The win moves Cranbrook to its sixth straight 2-0 start in regular season play.
The Cranes opened the scoring on a 12-yard run by junior QB Jack Fairman at 3:44 in the first quarter. A successful PAT by K Chase Paulus left the score 7-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Paulus added a 49-yard field goal to make the score 10-0 early in the second period.
The Cranes defense showed its strength; forcing a fumble deep in the Knights territory. LB Conner Toomey recovered the fumble for a Cranbrook touchdown. The Cranes led 17-0.
But the Holy Names Knights would not be deterred.
Putting together a sustained drive, Holy Names got on the scoreboard with a 19-yard TD run from senior QB Michael Herzog to bring the score to 17-7.
The Cranes responded with a short drive, but converted another Paulus 27-yard field goal.
Holy Names scored again on a Jake Heydon 36-yard pass to Theo Nesbitt to end the scoring of the quarter.
Cranbrook led 20-13 at the half.
While the Knights would make charges through the second half, but the Cranes would repeatedly deflect their attack.
Meanwhile, the Cranes would chew up the clock with a solid running game from junior RB Tariq Muhammad and senior RB Murari Nelluri.
Muhammad scored the second half’s only points on a 12-yard TD scamper to bring the contest to its final 27-13 point differential.
“The team showed tremendous poise in sticking with our game plan,” said Cranes head Coach Scott Steward. “The players completed their assignments and executed well against a good team.”
QB Jack Fairman had 60 yards rushing and 1 TD, RB Tariq Muhammad gained 87 yards on 15 carries and had 1 TD. Defensively S Torrell Williams had 11 tackles, while LB Connor Toomey had a fumble recovery for a TD.
Chase Paulus converted field goals from 49 and 27 yards and three PAT’s.
The Cranes move on to face the University of Detroit Cubs as they open their AA-Division schedule at home.