LIVONIA, Mich. - The Madonna University Crusaders kicked off their season with a Week One home opener against the Olivet Nazarene University (Ill.) Tigers. With a few key losses hurting the Crusaders' depth early in the game, they would go down 55-0 to the Tigers in their season debut.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Crusader Nation gathered at Churchill High School to support the team in the opening of their third full season as a program. The Madonna Football Team has shown time and time again that they are a team that is no stranger to adversity, and continued to shine through it on the turf today. Starting quarterback Arthur Brantley IV commented on the team's perseverance before the opening kickoff.

"From the spring [season], we had this mindset where we have to come together and build this bond where it can become unbreakable," Brantley told us pregame. "We're the underdogs all season… that's the biggest thing we have to come together, and that bond has definitely changed since last season." 

Getting the ball on the first drive, the Crusaders showed off their new mentality as they received the ball on the opening kickoff. Brantley got them started with an explosive 13-yard run off of a read-option play, giving the Crusaders some early momentum. However, a miscommunication on a handoff later in the drive left the Tigers in good field position, allowing them to take an early 7-0 lead.

The Crusaders shook off the early-game mishap, coming back out as if the score were still 0-0. Brantley exploded with a 36-yard run that put the Crusaders already in scoring position after the first play of the drive. Running back Dalen Cobb, the converted defensive back, busted out a 21-yard run up the middle on the next play, giving the Crusaders some hope that their offense could continue to move the ball well. Just as things seemed to be going their way, a fumble forced by the Tigers would halt their efforts. Tigers took over and went on to score once more, missing the extra point, but taking a 13-0 lead in the first quarter. 

Getting the ball back, graduate student D'Vonta Garrett would take a jet sweep for 18 yards, but a great open-field tackle by the Tigers prevented Garrett from going on to score. Following Garrett's electric run, a failed fourth-down conversion would end the Crusaders' hopes for scoring on that drive. 

Shortly after, Brantley would take a vicious hit after getting face-masked by a Tigers' defender, rendering him out for the game. Senior Josh DePaulis took over at quarterback for the Crusaders following Brantley's injury. However, after getting tripped up at the end of an eight-yard scramble, he would unfortunately also leave the game with an injury. The Crusaders turned to Max Morris as their field general for the remainder of play. With the injuries to their first and second string quarterbacks early, Madonna would trail 34-0 at the half.

Morris did his best to keep the Crusaders competitive in the second half, making plays both in the air and on the ground, tallying 36 rushing yards on the day including two rushes over ten yards. However, his efforts would not be enough to lead a Crusader comeback late in the game, as Madonna would go on to suffer a 55-0 loss in their opening game.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Morris went 5-of-15 passing for 25 yards while Brantley led all quarterbacks in rushing with 45 yards.
• Cobb led the Crusaders in rushing with 46 yards on nine carries.
• Emerson Combs led the team in receiving with four catches totaling 33 yards.
• Will Fennema II led the defense in tackles with eight total tackles and one tackle for loss.
• True freshman Tabari Triplett finished his collegiate debut with seven solo tackles.

UP NEXT:

The Madonna University football team hits the road for their second game of the season to take on Quincy University (Ill.). Kickoff is scheduled for 2:00 pm on Saturday, September 9th in Quincy, Ill.