williams onu
Nadia Toroiani - NBT Photography
91
Winner Taylor (IN) TAYLOR 8-2 , 3
28
Madonna MADONNA 0-10
Winner
Taylor (IN) TAYLOR
8-2 , 3
91
Final
28
Madonna MADONNA
0-10
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
TAYLOR Taylor (IN) 21 21 35 14 91
MADONNA Madonna 6 0 0 22 28

Game Recap: Football | | Kellen Burke

Williams sets single-game rushing record in loss to Trojans

LIVONIA, Mich. - After over a month on the road, the Crusaders returned home to Franklin High School to face the Taylor University Trojans. Despite the 91-28 loss, the Crusaders' offense had a record-breaking day with freshman running back Nah'shon Williams rushing for a school-record 158 yards and two touchdowns, a huge chunk of the Crusaders' 401 total offensive yards.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Getting the ball to start things off, the Crusaders moved the ball well on the initial drive. Keel Watson IV found receiver Taurean Singletary over the middle on the first play of the game for a gain of 13 yards. On the next play, freshman running back Nah'shon Williams would break free for a gain of 22 yards. After Watson picked up another first down with his legs, the Trojans would call an early time out. 

After the time out, the Trojans' defense appeared to regroup well, as they forced a punt just three plays later. A failed fake punt would lead to a turnover at midfield. The Trojans would immediately take advantage with a 48-yard touchdown. A Crusader interception on the next drive would once again leave them with good field position, scoring a touchdown on the ground just two plays later. After a promising start, the Crusaders found themselves down 14-0 early in the first quarter.

Not letting the early deficit get them down, the Crusaders would answer with a 51-yard touchdown run by Williams, who made a Trojan defender miss and then shifted gears to outrun the rest of the defense. After a botched snap on the extra point attempt, the Crusaders were back within one score, 14-6.

Just when it seemed like the Crusaders were back in it, the Trojans would answer with a long touchdown off of a reverse to make it 21-6. 

The Crusaders remained resilient, with Watson airing it out to wide receiver Emerson Combs for 26 yards to put the Crusaders well within Trojan territory. Wide receiver Imarion Kelly would move the chains on the next possession to get the Crusaders inside the redzone. However, the Trojans would force a fourth-down stop to get the ball back. Despite not getting any points from the drive, the Crusaders' offense would begin to find their footing.

On the first play of the ensuing drive for the Trojans, the Crusaders would carry over their momentum to the defensive side of the ball with a tackle-for-loss by Reese Greenfelder. They would go on to force a three-and-out to force the first Trojan punt of the day. However, a slew of penalties would kill the Crusaders' chances of getting the game back within one score, punting after a three-and-out backed up in their own territory.

After the punt, the Crusader defense would get after the Trojans, with Greenfelder stripping the ball from the quarterback with Zachary Sergent recovering it to give their offense a second chance in Trojan territory. Just as things seemed to be looking up, an unfortunate injury to Watson would stall the drive.

The Trojans would score another long touchdown with a reverse run to extend their lead to 28-6. They would tack on two more scores before halftime to make it 42-6.

While the Trojans would run up the scoreboard in the third quarter, the Crusaders would start the fourth quarter with a 75-yard touchdown run from Williams; his second of the game. His second long touchdown run put him at 158 yards on the day; a new school record. With a two-point pass from Max Morris to Jacob Irelan, the score was now 84-14 with just under 15 minutes to play.

Following the touchdown, the Crusaders would attempt an onside kick and recover it to get the ball right back. Morris would lead them down the field with a sideline toe-drag catch by Irelan to put them in the redzone. With fourth and a yard to go at the Trojans' ten-yard line, running back Kwame Miller would get the Crusaders down to the three yard line. On the next play, Miller would make his way into the endzone for his first touchdown of the day. After scoring on back-to-back drives, the Crusaders now only trailed 84-20.

Their running game would continue to prove formidable, with Samuel Kunnuji breaking free for a 38 yard touchdown on the third straight possession. Kunnuji would take the extra point in himself to make it 91-28. 

With 401 total yards as a team, the Crusaders set the single-game record for both total yards and rushing yards (241).

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
  • Williams rushed for 158 yards and two touchdowns.
  • Miller rushed for 76 yards and one touchdown.
  • Watson was 11-of-17 for 102 yards passing.
UP NEXT:

The Crusaders will conclude their 2024 campaign next week November 16 at home against the Siena Heights Saints.
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