Jeff downs Crestview in NWC grid battle

Van Wert independent sports

DELPHOS — The Crestview Knight football team kept up with Delphos Jefferson for three quarters, but a couple of fourth-quarter scores for the Wildcats was the difference in their 34-21 Northwest Conference victory over the Knights.

Crestview lit up the scoreboard first on a 3-yard run by Malcolm Oliver with 9:58 left in the first quarter. Kameron Grubaugh kicked the extra point and it was 7-0, Knights.

Jefferson responded nearly five minutes later when Zavier Buzard ran the ball in from the Knight 16-yard line to make 7-6, and Kurt Wollenhaupt kicked the point-after to tie the game at 7-all.

Crestview took back the lead at the 10:46 mark of the second quarter on a 4-yard run by Justin Overmeyer. Grubaugh again kicked the PAT and it was 14-7, Knights.

That lead lasted more than seven minutes, until Wildcats scored on a 35-yard run by Buzard. Wollenhaupt kicked the point-after to tie the game at 14 apiece, which was the score at halftime as well.

The Knights again scored first in the third quarter when Preston Zaleski ran the ball into the end zone from the Jefferson 1-yard line and Grubaugh kicked the PAT for a 21-14 Crestview lead with 8:53 remaining in the quarter.

The Wildcats again clawed their way back, this time on a 27-yard run by Buzard and a PAT kick by Wollenhaupt to make it 21-all.

Jefferson owned the final stanza, though, scoring twice on 38-yard and 1-yard runs by Buzard. Wollenhaupt kicked one of the PATs for the final 34-21 score.

The Wildcats compiled 343 yards of total offense, 224 of those on the ground, while holding Crestview to 250 yards of offense, 152 yards of that through the air.

Buzard led both teams in rushing with 170 yards and five touchdowns on 24 carries. Zaleski led the Knights in rushing with 36 yards and a TD on 13 carries.

The top receiver for the Knights was Isaiah Simerman, who caught four passes for 92 yards, while Oliver had two catches for 38 yards.

Zaleski completed 9 of 16 passes for 152 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions, while Jefferson quarterback Austin Jettinghoff was 13 of 26 for 119 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions.

With the win, the Wildcats are now 6-0 overall and 4-0 in league play, while Crestview is now 2-1 in the NWC and 4-2 overall.