The Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Cranes (4-1) (1-0) defeated the Lutheran High North Mustangs (2-3)(0-1) 41-7 in their opening CHSL Intersectional I divisional game on Saturday.
The Cranes opened the scoring in the first quarter with a 42-yard field goal by junior K Pierson Cooke.
The Mustangs would answer back with a sustained drive, capped off by a 12-yard run by senior QB Charles Cruse to give the Mustangs the lead 7-3.
Cranbrook’s next possession would stall, forcing a second field goal of the period from Cooke, this time from 23 yards.
“They came out with a good defensive effort, which forced us to consider other options on offense”, said Cranes Head Coach Joe D’Angelo.
The Cranes answer would be junior RB Aaron Wiggins.
Before the end of the first period, Wiggins would score on scampers of 60 and 80 yards to give the Cranes a 20-7 lead at the end of the first period. With no scoring by either team in the second period, the Cranes would take this lead into half time.
“The team overcame some early challenges, “said Head Coach Joe D’Angelo. “Our preparation gave us the option to be flexible.”
In the third period, Aaron Wiggins would score again, this time on a 16-yard run from scrimmage.
The fourth period would see the Cranes build on their lead, with a 13-yard run by senior RB/WR Dan Russell, Jr. and a 33-yard run by senior RB Tristan Knoer. The game would end 41-7 Cranbrook.
Wiggins finished the game with 222 yards on 23 carries and 3 TD’s. The Cranes would amass 342 yards on the ground in total with 5 rushing TD’s.
In the air, the Cranes QB’s Trevor McConnell went 13 for 27 and 56 yards.
Defensively, the Cranes were led by senior LB Patrick Foley, who had 12 tackles. Senior DL Ian Kovachs had 7 tackles including a tackle for a loss. Sophomore Torrell Williams had 2 INT’s on the day. Senior DL Garrett Faulkner, senior DL Daniel Levin, and junior DL Chris Smith would all register sacks.
Junior K Pierson Cooke was 2 for 2 in FG’s from 46 and 23 yards.
The Cranes will move on to face Riverview Gabriel Richard (3-2) (1-0) at home next week in their second divisional contest of the season.
Lutheran North (2-3)(0-1) will face Royal Oak Shrine(5-0) (2-0) in a Catholic League crossover match up.