Sports360AZBy Kennedy Wilkerson
As the 3A quarterfinals kicked off, Northwest Christian hit the ground running winning their first playoff game 35-7, after their round bye in last week.
It started as a defensive matchup against the Benjamin Franklin Chargers until things got rolling for the Crusaders following a Zach Heidel rushing touchdown late in the first quarter.
The Chargers picked up their first and only points of the game to start the second quarter and Northwest Christian struck back going up 14-7 with another rushing touchdown, this time on a one-yard QB keep from Jonathan Metzger.
The Crusaders closed out the half with a Cameron Adams interception and used that momentum to run away with it.
Benjamin Franklin had a hard time defending anything the Crusaders threw at them and Northwest Christian put up 21 second half points. Aren Van Hofwegon chipped in a 41-yard touchdown to put the Crusaders up 28-7.
And Cameron Adams snagged his second interception, this time for a pick-six, to seal the deal making it 35-7.
Crusader’s Head Coach Dave Inness said he the team’s intensity is what propelled them to the win.
“Our running game got better as the game went on and Metzger made a couple great throws,” Iness said.
Northwest Christian’s offense will have to continue their dominance next week when they take on the 10-3 Valley Christian Trojans in the semi-finals.
