Crusaders continue strong start, improve to 3-0 with 49-27 win

09/18/2015

The Mater Dei Catholic Crusaders finished runner-up in last year’s San Diego Section Division IV championship game and continue to rank near the top of the division in 2015. The Crusaders improved to 3-0 on the young season after defeating host Francis Parker, 49-27, last Friday.

“We are excited about starting 3-0, but we have a long way to go to keep improving for the rest of the season,” MDCHS head coach John Joyner offered in a cautious tone. “We are playing very hard and smart football, and when we do that we are pretty good.”

Offensively, the Crusaders are averaging 340 yards per game – 141 passing yards and 199 rushing yards. Defensively, the team has collected five sacks and four interceptions.

Team leaders include quarterback Chris Jones, who has 29 of 45 passing attempts for 412 yards with five touchdowns against no interceptions for a 131.0 quarterback-rating. He has also rushed 23 times for 100 yards and two touchdowns.

C.J. Verdell has led the Crusaders’ ground forces with 39 carries for 421 yards and five rushing touchdowns. He leads the team with 590 all-purpose yards.

Quentin Frazier is the team’s top receiver with seven catches for 143 yards. Verdell has also caught seven passes for 73 yards and one touchdown.

Verdell has a team-leading six touchdowns on the season.

Javon Bayless (28), Ruben Duran (27) and Jayden Emberton-Gaines (24) top the team in total tackles. Bayless leads the team with two interceptions while Frazier and Micah Scott each have one pick. Dominick Wood-Anderson leads the team with two sacks.

Highlights in last week’s win at Francis Parker included a 75-yard kickoff return by Eli Shelton while Verdell rushed for 165 yards on five carries and scored two touchdowns. Mario Williams had five carries for 66 yards and also scored one touchdown while Harrison Williams-kee had two receptions for 23 yards and one TD.

Mater Dei Catholic, which entered the week as the section’s No. 14-ranked team, is idle this week but returns to action with a Sept. 25 non-league game at San Ysidro (0-3).

2015 Prep Football

Week 3 Scoreboard

Friday, Sept. 11

Hilltop 35, Chula Vista 33

Castle Park 41, Santana 38

Olympian 26, Morse 6

Otay Ranch 28, Mt. Miguel 0

Mater Dei Catholic 49, Francis Parker 27

Madison 29, Bonita Vista 28

Helix 56, Eastlake 7

Clairemont 27, Montgomery 26 (OT)

Orange Glen 32, San Ysidro 13

Mission Bay 26, Sweetwater 13

Xochicalco (Tijuana) 14, Southwest 6

Chula Vista Calvary Christian Academy 46, San Pasqual Academy 28

Rock Academy 35, Ocean View Christian Academy 8

Week 4 Schedule

Friday, Sept. 18

Chula Vista Calvary Christian Academy at Ocean View Christian Academy, 3:30 p.m.

Bonita Vista at Scripps Ranch, 6:30 p.m.

San Ysidro at University City, 6:30 p.m.

Sweetwater at Chula Vista, 7 p.m.

Grossmont at Hilltop, 7 p.m.

Madison at Eastlake, 7 p.m.

St. Augustine at Otay Ranch, 7 p.m.

Vincent Memorial at Southwest, 7 p.m.

Olympian at Lincoln, 7 p.m.

Mar Vista at Valhalla, 7 p.m.

Montgomery at Santana, 7 p.m.

Castle Park at Capistrano Valley, 7 p.m.

Lutheran vs. Calipatria at Monte Vista High School, 7 p.m.

San Diego Section Football Rankings

SD Sportswriters/Sportscasters Poll

(Through Sept. 12)

Mission Hills Grizzlies (3-0)
Helix Highlanders (1-1)
St. Augustine Saints (2-1)
Rancho Bernardo Broncos (3-0)
Oceanside Pirates (2-1)
Madison Warhawks (2-1)
El Camino Wildcats (3-0)
Cathedral Catholic (1-2)
Christian Patriots (2-1)
La Costa Canyon (2-1)

Other teams: San Marcos Knights (2-1), Bonita Vista Barons (2-1), Eastlake Titans (1-2), Mater Dei Catholic Crusaders (3-0), Point Loma Pointers (2-1), Westview Wolverines (3-0), Bishop’s Knights (3-0), Grossmont Foothillers (3-0), Mission Bay Buccaneers (3-0), Poway (2-1)

South County Prep Football

2015 Playoff Ticker

Division I

Olympian 2-1

Eastlake 1-2

Division II

Otay Ranch 2-1

Division III

Bonita Vista 2-1

Hilltop 2-1

Chula Vista 0-3

Sweetwater 0-3