Calvary Day School football coach Mark Stroud said he went into the Cavaliers’ Region 3 crossover game Friday night against Treutlen High School with a measure of apprehension, considering his team beat the Vikings in September.
Stroud had nothing to worry about. Calvary Day scored 35 points in the first quarter and cruised to a 70-14 victory over Treutlen at M.C. Anderson Field.
“I was definitely leery of having to play someone a second time around,” said Stroud, whose Cavaliers beat Treutlen 27-19 on Sept. 21. “They’ve got really good skill guys and we knew that they could make some big plays.
“Again, credit to our staff,” he continued. “I thought our staff really did a great job of getting our kids ready to play. They were kind of locked in on what Treutlen was doing so it was a good night for us.”
Calvary Day (9-1) extended its winning streak to four games after a one-point loss to Savannah Christian. The Cavaliers were led by senior quarterback Jake Clemens, who ran four times for 65 yards, including three touchdowns of 10, 26 and 29 yards in the first quarter.
“We expected it to be pretty close,” Stroud said. “You never want the score to be quite like that. Honestly. I just wish it wasn’t like that. You don’t want to take anything away from your own kids who played, but you just wish the game wouldn’t have ended with a score like that.”
Treutlen (6-5) had its two-game winning streak snapped.
Calvary Day’s first play from scrimmage, a 37-yard pass from Clemens to senior tight end Ryan Jennings, set the tone for the game. Three plays later, Clemens ran for a 10-yard touchdown and senior Luke Stroud kicked the extra point to give the Cavaliers a 7-0 lead with 10:53 left in the first quarter.
Treutlen’s ensuing drive stalled after three plays, and the Vikings attempted to punt but the snap was high and junior punter Mathew Powell, also the starting quarterback, fumbled the ball. Calvary Day senior Chandler Bennett recovered the ball at the Vikings’ 26-yard line.
Two plays later, Calvary Day’s Clemens ran for a 26-yard touchdown and Stroud kicked the extra point for a 14-0 lead with 8:06 left in the first quarter.
Treutlen, on third and 11 on its ensuing drive, turned the ball over when Powell was sacked by Calvary Day senior defensive end Micah Culbreth. Bennett scooped up the ball and returned it 14 yards for a touchdown. Stroud’s extra point made it 21-0 with 7:08 left in the first quarter.
Calvary Day made it 28-0 with 3:50 remaining in the first quarter when Clemens ran for 29-yard touchdown and Spencer Davis kicked the extra point.
Treutlen tried to mount a rally but Calvary Day’s Culbreth registered his second sack of the game on third and 8, forcing the Vikings to punt.
Two plays later, Calvary Day sophomore running back Robert Heyward ran for a 12-yard touchdown and Davis kicked the extra point to give the Cavaliers a 35-0 lead with 52 seconds left in the first quarter.
Treutlen’s Powell was sacked by Calvary Day junior defensive lineman Andre Wilson on second and 17. The Vikings’ pass attempt on fourth down was incomplete, and the Cavaliers took over at Treutlen’s 16-yard line.
Three plays later, Calvary Day junior running back Derek Kirkland ran for a 10-yard touchdown and Davis kicked the extra point for a 42-0 lead with 9:54 left in the second quarter.
Calvary Day backup quarterback Michael Peterson was intercepted by Treutlen’s Drew Gillis in the second quarter.
Treutlen’s Powell was intercepted on the Vikings’ ensuing drive by Calvary Day’s Tyrone Riley.
Treutlen backup quarterback Kristopher King was intercepted by Calvary Day’s Kirkland.
The Cavaliers led 42-0 at halftime.
“That game earlier in the year with those guys was a very tight football game,” Stroud said. “They’ve had a few injuries. If you take the first half of the game, I was just proud we came out and took care of business and played the game right, played the game hard.”
In the third quarter, Calvary Day’s Culbreth and sophomore running back Chris Glover each ran for 10-yard touchdowns, and Kirkland returned a fumbled kickoff return by Treutlen for a 35-yard touchdown to make it 63-0.
Treutlen cut the score to 63-7 with 16 seconds left in the third quarter when Powell connected with King for a 25-yard touchdown and Nathan Drake kicked the extra point.
The Vikings cut the score to 63-14 with 1:21 to play in the fourth quarter when King threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Magel Johnson.
Calvary Day freshman Brent Sanders returned the ensuing kickoff for an 80-yard touchdown and Davis kicked his seventh extra point to make it 70-14 with 1:04 to play.
Calvary Day’s Heyward finished with 103 yards on eight carries. The Cavaliers ran for 217 yards on 29 carries.
Treutlen’s players combined for 25 yards rushing on 26 carries.
THS 0 0 7 7 — 14
CDS 35 7 21 7 — 70
CDS—Jake Clemens 10 run (Luke Stroud kick)
CDS—Clemens 26 run (Stroud kick)
CDS—Chandler Bennett 14 fumble return (Stroud kick)
CDS—Clemens 29 run (Spencer Davis kick)
CDS—Robert Heyward 12 run (Davis kick)
CDS—Derek Kirkland 10 run (Davis kick)
CDS—Micah Culbreth 10 run (Davis kick)
CDS—Chris Glover 10 run (Davis kick)
CDS—Kirkland 35 return of fumbled kickoff (Davis kick)
THS—Kristopher King 25 pass from Mathew Powell (Nathan Drake kick)
THS—Magel Johnson 2 pass from King (Drake kick)
CDS—Brent Sanders 80 kickoff return (Davis kick)