Cranbrook slips past the Walled Lake Central 10-0; Muhammad breaks 81-yard scamper in victory.

Senior RB Tariq Muhammad had a 81-yard TD run in the victory over Walled Lake Central.

(S. Fairman- Photo Credit)

The Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Cranes pushed past the Walled Lake Central Vikings 10-0 in a MHSAA non-conference Week 5 match up. The win is Cranbrook’s second consecutive victory over the Walled Lake Central.

The Cranes began the scoring on their first possession. Cranbrook capped off a 9-play drive with a 36-yard FG by junior kicker Chase Paulus at the 8:42 mark in the first quarter.

Cranbrook led 3-0 at the end of the first quarter.

After a great punt by Walled Lake Central, the Cranes were backed in to their own end of the field at the 19-yard line.

A hand off to senior RB Tariq Muhammad changed all that.

A block by junior OL/DL Bryce Hall sprung Muhammad to the outside, and off to the races he went for an 81-yard TD run. A Paulus extra point conversion left the score at 10-0 at the 10:46 mark in the second quarter.

Walled Lake Central began to put together a long march toward the goal line, powered by good running from their junior quarterback Blake Nelson.

Making it to the Cranbrook 15-yard line, Nelson attempted a TD pass to the end zone, but it was intercepted by senior safety Jacob Peruski for a touchback.

The Cranes defense held fast and Cranbrook went in to half time with a 10-0 lead.

Just after halftime, with 9:46 left to play in the 3rd quarter, the game was halted due to lightning.

The game resumed the next day at 12:00 noon after the weather cleared.

On the second day of the game, it was the Cranes defense that made the big plays.

Walled Lake put together a 15-play drive, a 12-play drive, and two 10-play drives in there second half possessions.

A sack by senior DL William Kerr and several big tackles by senior LB Jungwon Lee, senior DL Ahmad Masood and sophomore LB Travis Illitch kept the Vikings at bay.

Another interception at the goal line with about a minute to play by Peruski sealed the shut out by Cranbrook.

“This was a hard-fought victory,” said Cranes Head Coach Ben Jones. “The team pulled together to make a stand defensively and give us a chance to win. I’m proud of our effort.”

Muhammed finished the game 17 for 121 yards and 1 TD. Senior Gabe Peterson had 4 receptions for 52 yards.

Defensively, Illitch lead the Cranes with 11 tackles and 1 TFL, while Peruski had two INTs. Kerr had 1 sack, 7 tackles and 2 TFL’s.

K Chase Paulus kicked a 36-yard FG, 1 PAT, and averaged 52 yards a punt.

Cranbrook marches on to face division rival Detroit Loyola next week on the road.