BY MELANIE CRABTREE
Special to the Telegraph-Times-Monitor
West Nassau took a 34-0 lead into halftime and tacked on 18 after intermission, sending the Keystone Heights High School football team home from Callahan with a 52-0 loss on Oct. 3.
The Warriors (7-1) scored first, with Andi Atazia running the ball for a touchdown and kicker Gavin Velazquez sealing the extra point.
West Nassau’s Chris Messer, Avery Griffin, Smo Green, and Cameron Johns reached paydirt before halftime, and Velazquez punched three more extra points through the uprights, giving the Warriors a 34-0 lead.
The only blemishes in the home team’s offense were three missed extra points.
Johns, Levi Ansley and Blaine Coker continued the Warriors’ touchdown blitz in the second half.
Keystone Head Coach Steve Reynolds emphasized effort over the scoreboard, saying that despite the game’s outcome, he appreciated the passion and hard work his players exhibited.
“Even though the team is young, their passion to learn the sport, to compete and to earn a victory as a team continues to grow,” Reynolds said. “Victories are not given; you have to earn them.”
Reynolds added that the team would continue to learn from its mistakes, fix them and work hard every day.
Quarterback Hunter Crumpton led the Indian ground game with 64 yards on 32 carries. He also completed one pass to Luke Bacorn for 6 yards.
Defensively, Trase Wooden, Pete Bostic and Josiah Bardier each had two tackles. Bacorn, Caleb Alvers, Coy Campbell, Logan Madden-Moore, Connor Mooneyham and Micah Screen all notched one stop.
The Indians (0-6) celebrate homecoming on Friday, Oct. 10, when they host District 5-2A opponent Santa Fe at 7:30 p.m. The Raiders (4-2) are coming off a 27-7 loss to district opponent Newberry.
