Calvary Christian routs Young American in season-opener

Emotions were high Friday night at Len McWilliams Field, for obvious reasons. Calvary Christian was playing on its campus for the first time in the program's five-year history. And let's not forget it was the season-opener for the Knights, who have high expectations after falling short in the GICAA state championship game last season.

Well if the Knights felt any pressure to perform in front of their home fans, it didn't show as they ran over Young American 62-7 in the 2015 season opener.

"I wouldn't say our guys felt pressure, they have been just excited to play since last season," said coach Brian Osborne. "They have been very antsy to get on the field and to play the first game ever on your school's campus, we have just been practicing very hard for this moment.

"It's something they are

going to remember for the rest of their lives. To be able to say that I played the first ever game on my school campus and to win, is pretty special and I couldn't be prouder of them," added Osborne.

Calvary (1-0) displayed their dominance over Young American from the opening kickoff.

On the opening drive of the game, it took the Knights just three plays to go 49 yards and to score the season's first touchdown.

Before the first quarter ended, Calvary already had a 21-0 lead over the Eagles and ran just eight plays.

Most of that had to do with Calvary's offensive line. The unit created huge running lanes for the entire game, giving backs Anthony Santiago, Jacquez Green and Tredrick Wilburn plenty of work to operate.

"Our offense starts with our offensive line since we had so many guys returning and that was one of the big things I was excited for this year," Osborne said. "Our running backs had big holes to run through and when they had to make cuts, they did."

The Knights' running trio had no problem gaining yards. Combined, they ran for 303 yards and scored five touchdowns. Santiago led the way with 116 yards on 10 rushes while Green got to the 100-yard plateau and crossed the goal line once.

After Wilburn -- who finished the night with 87 yards -- scored his first touchdown of the night to put the Knights up 28-0 just four minutes into the second quarter, Young American began their next drive on their own twenty.

On the first play on the drive, Bryce Andrews picked off a Ross Mahan pass and took it back 25 yards to the house to put Calvary up 35-0. It was Andrews' second touchdown of the day as he caught a 37-yard touchdown pass from Kasen Andrews in the first quarter.

Calvary took a 49-0 lead into halftime, but the Knights weren't finished.

In the third quarter, the Knights put together a nice drive after starting in their own side of the field. After a 10-play drive, backup quarterback Jack McCarty scored on a one-yard quarterback sneak to put Calvary ahead 55-0.

Young American had one spark in them on the proceeding drive as Blake Rhinehart launched a Hail Mary pass on a 2-and-28 on the Eagle two and found a streaking Mahan for the score.

Calvary responded with a big play of their own before the final whistle as Cody Russell intercepted a Rhinehart pass and ran 98-yards for a touchdown to get to the final margin of 62-7.

Overall, Osborne felt like his defense played great.

"I saw a defense that was flying around all night," Osborne said. "We are a very aggressive defense and sometimes we are going to allow a big play and I will accept that.

"But overall, the guys were playing sideline-to-sideline and that's what we like to see."

Next week, Calvary has a much tougher test as they travel to play at Fullington Academy.

Friday at Len McWilliams Field

Young American 0 0 0 7--7

Calvary Christian 21 28 0 13--62

First Quarter

C: Anthony Santiago 14-yard run (Thomas Chappel kick), 10:54

C: Bryce Andrews 37-yard pass from Kasen Andrews (Chappel kick), 7:50

C: Jacquez Green 8-yard run (Chappel kick), 4:40

Second Quarter

C: Tredrick Wilburn 6-yard run (Chappel kick), 8:21

C: B. Andrews 25-yard interception return (Chappel kick), 8:12

C: Santiago 16-yard run (Chappel kick), 5:56

C: Wilburn 38-yard run (Jack Woolbright kick), 1:05

Fourth Quarter

C: Jack McCarty 1-yard rush (Woolbright kick failed), 10:56

Y: Ross Mahan 98-yard pass from Blake Rhinehart (Joel Barnes), 9:46

C: Cody Russell 98-yard interception return (Woolbright kick), 1:10

This story was originally published August 21, 2015 at 11:42 PM with the headline "Calvary Christian routs Young American in season-opener ."