PREP FOOTBALL: Crocker, Lovell connect 3 times in 35-8 Cullman rout of Etowah

Published 12:25 am Saturday, August 30, 2014

ATTALLA — A big and experienced offensive line allowed Cullman High to run roughshod over Class 5A No. 9 Etowah Friday night for a 35-8 victory.

The Bearcats (1-1) accumulated 232 rushing yards, including 166 yards on 24 carries by Will Crenshaw. The senior also caught three passes for 20 yards.

“They’ve got a very good offensive line and we knew it coming in,” Etowah coach Drew Noles said. “We’re very young up there but I’m not making excuses.

“We got whipped in every phase, starting with me.”

Cullman put together a game-opening drive that marched 63 yards on 12 plays, ending with a 7-yard touchdown pass from Ross Crocker to Owen Lovell.

The outcome helped to ease the pain of the Black and Gold’s loss to Arab last week, the program’s first to the Knights since 1993.

“We had a great week of practice,” Bearcats coach Mark Britton said. “The kids had a great attitude and it just spilled over into the game.”

After the Blue Devils (0-2) went three-and-out, the Bearcats put together another drive, scoring in six plays, on a 1-yard run by Crenshaw. With 5:27 left in the first quarter, it appeared that Cullman might have a rout in store.

“With a young (sophomore) quarterback, you need good play out of the line and you need a good defense,” Britton said. “We got both tonight.”

However, Etowah settled down and took a 14-0 deficit into the locker room for halftime.

Opening the third quarter with a touchdown, it appeared the Blue Devils were still in the game. But Cullman had other ideas.

Etowah needed only six plays to score, after getting position at midfield following a good kickoff return by Paul Ruiz. The score came on a pass from Andrew Noles to Stacy Williams from 24 yards out. Noles to Williams also connected for a 2-point conversion.

However, an unsportsmanlike conduct call put the Blue Devils back 15 yards for the kickoff. This gave the Bearcats good field position and they took advantage, scoring on an 8-yard pass from Crocker to Lovell with 7:01 left in the frame. Matthew Bell’s extra point upped the advantage to 21-8. Bell connected on all five PATs for the game.

Cullman scored again in the third quarter, on a 2-yard run by Justin Patterson. The touchdown was secured by field position again. This time, it was Brontae Harris intercepting a pass and returning it 45 yards.

The final score came on another Crocker-to-Lovell pass, this time from 59 yards away. It came with 4:19 left in the game.

Crocker completed 12 of 17 passes for 137 yards and three touchdowns, all to Lovell.

Etowah hosts Douglas next Friday in its region opener, while Cullman enjoys a bye week.