In front of a raucous crowd on homecoming night, the Crespi Celts defeated the Loyola Cubs 20-7 thanks to a stellar defensive performance to improve to 7-0 on the season.
The undefeated Celts jumped out to an early 10-0 advantage in the first quarter. The Cubs answered with a touchdown of their own and trailed 10-7 at halftime.
Turnovers played a pivotal role in the second half as the Crespi defense put forth an impressive effort and forced Loyola into several costly mistakes.
The turning point in the game came in the third quarter when Crespi defender Raymond Davison shot through the gap and blocked the Loyola punt deep in their own territory. Crespi’s Davond Dade scooped up the ball and returned it to the house, giving the Celts a 17-7 lead late in the third quarter.
Crespi player JB Blackwell took home the CLA Offensive Player of the Game for making several crucial third down conversions while Tyler Foreman and Davond Dade were named CLA Co-Defensive Players of the Game for Crespi.
Trailing 20-7 in the fourth, Loyola mounted a solid drive and was in scoring position when Crespi standout defensive end Tyler Foreman delivered a crushing hit, forcing a fumble and another Loyola turnover that ultimately sealed the game.
Despite a lackluster offensive performance, Crespi made enough big plays on defense and special teams to earn a quality win and extend their perfect season. Next up for the Celts is a matchup on the road against rival Notre Dame.
