Crusaders overcome slow start to top Miners

Christian Marshall only had 12 carries, but he made them count, rushing for 108 yards and two TDs on Thursday as Faith Lutheran's football team downed visiting Sunrise Mountain, 36-14 in the first round of the Division I-A playoffs.

Sunrise Mountain held the Crusaders (9-1) without a first down on their first three drives. That gave the Miners great field position, as their first three drives started in Faith Lutheran territory.

But only one of those ended in points, with Trayvon Ward scoring on a 13-yard run to put Sunrise Mountain up 7-0 with 8:24 to go in the first quarter.

The Faith Lutheran offense finally got going on its fourth possession, marching 80 yards on 10 plays, capped by a 4-yard TD by Marshall. From there it was all Crusaders, who got a 75-yard touchdown strike from Brenden Joyce to Brytton Weber with 6:30 to go in the third quarter, and then forced three fourth-quarter turnovers to put away the Miners.

Ward rushed for 121 yards and a touchdown to lead the Miners (6-4). Daltyn Pytrysson caught a 4-yard TD pass from Steven Wright for Sunrise Mountain, which was making its first postseason appearance.

Ryan Callan had field goals of 20 and 33 yards for Faith Lutheran, and teammate Robby Schwartz intercepted a pass.

The Crusaders play Chaparral (8-2) in a state quarterfinal on Friday, Nov. 6.