Crestview gets blowout over Mustangs

Van Wert independent sports

CONVOY — The Crestview Knights generated more than 400 yards of total offense, while the Knight defense held off Allen East in a lopsided 62-19 Northwest Conference victory on Friday night.

The Mustangs began the scoring with 2:59 remaining in the first quarter when Ross Stewart ran the ball in from the Crestview 1-yard-line. Erik Neeley kicked the extra point and it was 7-0, Allen East.

The Knights then scored 49 unanswered points to put the game out of reach by the beginning of the fourth quarter.

Crestview’s first score came on a 10-yard run by Malcolm Oliver with 34 seconds left in the first stanza. Kameron Grubaugh kicked the point-after to tie the game at 7-all. Preston Zaleski then made touchdown runs of 15 and 73 yards for the next two Knight scores, followed by a 4-yard run by Oliver, a 52-yard interception return for a TD by Isaiah Simerman and a 7-yard run by Oliver, all of that in the second quarter, for a 42-7 halftime lead.

Neither team scored in the third quarter, but Crestview made it 48-7 on a 5-yard run by Jake Lippi. Grubaugh kicked his fifth PAT in six tries and it was 49-7, Knights.

Allen East then got on the scoreboard for the second time as Brent Wilson found paydirt at the end of a 36-yard scamper. The point-after failed and it was 49-13, Crestview.

The Knights scored next on a 1-yard run by Zion Zawko with 1:13 left in the game for a 55-49 lead. Allen East again scored with 15 seconds left on a 69-yard run by Johnny Brinkman and Alex Ingram scored on a 65-yard kick return for the final touchdown of the night. Knight backup kicker Jake Tatum kicked the extra point for the final score of 62-19.

All but 90 yards of Crestview’s offensive totals were on the ground, with Zaleski, the Knight quarterback, generating 116 yards and two touchdowns on seven attempts to lead Crestview. Oliver had 76 yards and three TDs on eight carries, while Isaiah Kline ran for 50 yards on four carries, and Jordan Miller had 39 yards on 12 carries. Zaleski was 4 of 9 through the air for 80 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions.

Johnny Brinkman led the Mustangs with 76 yards and a touchdown on three carries, while Ross Stewart had 69 yards and a TD on 20 carries; and Brent Wilson rushed for 41 yards and a touchdown on two carries.

With the win, the Knights are 4-1 overall and 2-0 in league play.