BLUFFTON, Ohio - Madonna delivered when the game tightened, answering Bluffton's late touchdown with an 80-yard scoring drive to secure a 27-18 victory Saturday at Salzman Stadium.Connor Greif's 45-yard completion to Micale McClure ignited the decisive possession before Kolter Smith found Eric Thomas for an 18-yard touchdown with 2:12 remaining, helping the Crusaders improve to 2-0.
Madonna set the tone with a 75-yard opening drive capped by Aiden Napier's 2-yard touchdown run on fourth down. Bluffton returned the blocked conversion attempt 97 yards for two points, then moved ahead during a difficult second quarter for the Crusaders.
Madonna's defense stopped Kaleb Evans at the 1-yard line on fourth-and-goal, but Bluffton recorded a safety on the next play. Adam LePla's 26-yard touchdown reception later sent the hosts into halftime with an 11-6 lead.
The Crusaders regained their rhythm after the break. Kwame Miller completed a 73-yard drive with an 18-yard touchdown run, putting Madonna ahead 13-11 with 7:25 left in the third quarter.
Early in the fourth, McClure broke free for a 56-yard reception to the Bluffton 3, and Brock Culpepper scored on the next play to extend the advantage to 20-11.
Madonna's defense repeatedly disrupted Bluffton despite the Beavers' success through the air. Ronald Thomas recovered Evans' fourth-down fumble at the Madonna 28 with 10:01 remaining, ending one scoring threat. Jacobe Oglesby, Colin Tola and Thomas each recorded a sack, while Duke Coats led the Crusaders with nine tackles and broke up three passes. Culpepper added six tackles, two tackles for loss and two quarterback hurries as Madonna held Bluffton to minus-13 rushing yards and totaled five sacks.
Bluffton pulled within 20-18 on Jashawn Wyckoff's 18-yard touchdown catch with 4:15 to play, but Madonna needed only 2:03 to restore a two-score margin. Greif connected with McClure on the second play of the response, and Smith finished the drive with the touchdown pass to Thomas. Smith completed 14 of 25 passes for 212 yards without an interception, while McClure turned three receptions into a game-high 121 yards. Miller added 58 yards on 16 carries.
The Crusaders finished with a 334-283 advantage in total offense, converted both fourth-down attempts and scored on all four red-zone trips. Madonna's defense supplied the final word by forcing an incompletion on fourth down with 22 seconds remaining, closing out a resilient road victory and a perfect start through two games.
With the win the Crusaders improve to 2-0 on the season with the best start in program history. The Crusaders will be on the road again when they travel to Indianapolis, IN to face #12 Marian University at Ascension St. Vincent Field. Saturday's MSFA matchup will kickoff at 1:00 PM.
