LIVONIA, Mich. - The Madonna Crusaders kicked off the first game of the Brett Guminsky Era from their new home field of Franklin High School today against the No. 6 Indiana Wesleyan University Wildcats. While the Crusaders showed flashes of greatness, the Wildcats proved why they are one of the most highly-touted programs in the nation, taking a 59-0 victory over the Crusaders.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

The Wildcats got off to a hot start with 21 first-quarter points. However, the scoreboard did not tell the whole story, as the Crusader defense repeatedly proved they were not going to give up ground-yardage easily. Senior defensive ends Bobby Martin and Tommy Larson combined for two tackles-for-loss and a sack in the first quarter. However, the Wildcats' high-powered passing offense showed why they are ranked No. 6 nationally in the preseason poll, leading 21-0 after one.

A fourth-down-and-four conversion for the Crusaders in the second quarter was their first explosive play of the day, a 22-yard rush from freshman running back Nah'shon Williams. However the Crusaders failed to capitalize off of the big play, still trailing 38-0 at the half.

After the intermission, the Crusaders came out firing on all cylinders. Senior receiver Adam Sabbagh took the opening kick all the way to the fifty-yard line. On the first play of the drive, senior running back Troy Jordan bounced outside for an 18-yard gain. Quarterback Keel Watson IV hit South Carolina State transfer Taurean Singletary for a 14-yard gain. However, the promising drive was cut short when the Wildcats blocked a Crusader field goal attempt.

The Crusader defense did not let the blocked kick hurt their momentum, as they forced the game's first three-and-out, giving the offense the ball back. Finding themselves in another fourth-down in their own territory, the Crusader offense stayed on the field. Watson hit senior receiver Emerson Combs for a 17-yard gain and a new set of chains. With a toe-tap grab by Southern Oregon transfer Imaurion Kelly for 11-yards, the Crusaders kept the drive alive.

Their second-consecutive promising drive was stalled by a costly pair of penalties, eventually forcing the Crusaders to punt. Punter Reese Greenfelder pinned the Wildcats inside their own five-yard-line. Despite the unfortunate ending without points on the board, the new Crusader offense showed that they were finally finding their rhythm, while at the same time setting their defense up for success. The Crusaders held the Wildcats scoreless in the third, remaining a 38-0 game with fifteen minutes left to play.

Sophomore Johnathan Rentrope relieved Watson in the fourth quarter at quarterback. Rentrope completed his first pass to Combs for a 21-yard gain. Following that, he hit receiver Jeremy Barber down the sideline for a 15-yard gain. While unable to get points on the board, Rentrope proved that he at least deserves to be in the starting-quarterback conversation after his fourth quarter performance.

The Wildcats would tack on three scores in the final quarter to secure a 59-0 victory in the first game of the season.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Watson finished the day 10-of-26 for 75 yards.
• Rentrope was 7-of-14 for 48 yards in his fourth quarter outing.
• Jordan led the Crusader offense with 60 yards on 13 carries.
• Combs led the team in receptions with five for 48 yards.
• Linebacker Justin Smith led the defense with seven tackles, two tackles-for-loss and a sack.
• Linebacker Nick Miller recorded a team-high eight tackles on the day.
• Martin recorded five tackles, two-and-a-half tackles-for-loss, and half a sack.
• Larson recorded four tackles, two tackles-for-loss, and half a sack.

UP NEXT:

The Crusaders will hit the road next week as they head down to Elgin, IL, to face the Judson University Eagles on September 7, at 2:00 pm.