By Phil Keren

Correspondent

A dominant ground game propelled Crestwood to a 40-6 victory over Beachwood at Jack Lambert Stadium on Friday night.

“I can’t be more proud of the full team effort tonight,” said Crestwood head coach Jack D’Amato.

The Red Devils’ rushing attack was led by senior running back Nate Blasiole, who had 112 yards on 11 carries and two touchdowns.

“Every week, he’s special,” D’Amato said. “He’s been a special kid for our program the last three, four years.”

D’Amato noted Blasiole also made plays that won’t show up on a stat sheet.

“He led on some great blocks. That’s what we’ve been preaching the whole time,” said D’Amato, who noted Blasiole’s efforts in this department have a positive impact on his teammates.

“It shows the other guys he’ll do it for you if you do it for him.”

Crestwood got off to a quick start when senior wide receiver Bryce Giel took a handoff on a jet sweep and broke away from the Bisons’ defense for a 70-yard touchdown on the second play of the game. After the 2-point conversion failed, the Red Devils had a 6-0 lead less than a minute into the game.

A short time later, the Red Devils strung together a five-play, 81-yard drive to take a 14-0 lead midway through the first period. There were three chunk plays on this scoring march: A 22-yard run from senior running back Tristen Addis; a 30-yard scamper courtesy of senior wide receiver Tommy Georger; and a 23-yard touchdown run from Blasiole after he gathered the ball from a direct snap. Blasiole also ran the ball to paydirt to record the 2-point conversion.

After Crestwood’s defense recorded its second consecutive three-and-out, a high snap over the Beachwood punter’s head and rolled into the end zone. The punter then tracked the ball down and fell on it in the end zone, giving the Red Devils a safety and a 16-0 advantage.

Even though the Crestwood offense ended up turning the ball over on downs on its next drive, the defense stepped in to lend a helping hand. On the second play of Beachwood’s next possession, Beachwood senior quarterback Johnathon Owens’ pass was intercepted by Crestwood senior linebacker Jackson Rattray at the Bisons’ 45-yard line. A five-play, 45-yard march culminated with a 1-yard scoring run from Blasiole. On the previous play, Blasiole broke multiple tackles as he twisted and turned his way through the Beachwood defense on a powerful 24-yard run.

After the touchdown, Crestwood freshman quarterback Michael Kalista rolled to his right and threw a strike to junior wide receiver Wyatt Januska in the end zone for the 2-point conversion. Kalista then closed out the scoring in the first half with a 30-yard touchdown run down the sideline.

D’Amato praised Kalista, who managed the offense and made some big plays of his own in his first start.

“I was impressed with him,” D’Amato said. “He’s a freshman. That’s a big spot for him to step in to, and he did a great job…I’m proud of him and the way he competed. I look forward to seeing him grow.”

The Red Devils built a 32-0 advantage by halftime, a margin that triggered a running clock in the second half and allowed many junior-varsity players to gain some valuable playing experience.

“It was great to get everyone involved in the second half,” said D’Amato.

With the large lead at intermission, D’Amato told his varsity players to “be engaged.”

“We want you coaching the younger guys up if you see them make a mistake or if you see something they don’t see … teach them so they’re ready for the Friday Night Lights when they get their opportunity.”

In the second half, Crestwood senior wide receiver Zephaniah Beverly scored on a 3-yard run, and Beachwood got on the board late in the fourth quarter when sophomore running back Braylon Willard found paydirt on a 68-yard cutback run.

“Until that last play right at the end (the junior varsity players) did a great job defensively, and on offense,” D’Amato said.

Nine different players ended up carrying the football for the Red Devils.

“We were able to get the ball to a lot of different guys, get a lot of people involved, and it was a good night,” D’Amato said.