Crusaders lose to the Warriors

Monday, November 17, 2008 12:05 PM CST

Maranatha Baptist Bible College’s Phil Sturm, left, and Tim Manion, right, bring down Wisconsin Lutheran College running back Jesse Muldrow during the Crusaders’ 35-20 season finale loss Saturday at Maranatha. (JOHN HART/Daily Times)

The Maranatha Baptist Bible College football team was defeated by the Wisconsin Lutheran Warriors 35-20 in the final game of the 2008 season Saturday.

After being held to 88 total yards against Rockford, the Crusader offense played with a little extra motivation on Saturday against the Warriors. The Crusaders gained 265 yards compared to 297 for the Warriors. Time of possession was much better as well with the Crusaders possessing the ball 25:38 compared to the Warriors' 34:22. The key for this game was the turnovers. The Crusaders turned the ball over six times and had only one takeaway.

In the first quarter the Crusaders scored first on a 16-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Nathan Chromy to Rob Dupre. The PAT failed, so the Crusaders led 6-0.

In the second quarter Wisconsin Lutheran answered on its next possession and took the 7-6 lead. The Crusader offense responded itself when Chromy scored on a 13-yard run to give the Crusaders the 12-7 lead. After marching down the field, the Warriors took back the lead 14-12 with 1:51 left in the first half.

On the ensuing kickoff the Crusaders fumbled the ball, and the Warriors recovered. Only 44 seconds later, the Warriors scored again and went into the locker room with a 20-12 lead over the Crusaders.

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During the third quarter the Warriors went on a nine-play, 71-yard drive to take a commanding 28-12 lead. On their next possession the Crusaders advanced the ball to the Warriors 11-yard line but failed to convert on a fourth down. The defense forced a Warrior punt to give the Crusaders another opportunity to reduce the 16-point deficit.

However, on the first play of the fourth quarter, Brad Marshall intercepted a Chromy pass and ran the ball back 35 yards for a Warrior touchdown and a 35-12 lead. The Crusaders missed on another golden opportunity to score early in the fourth quarter when Tim Manion tackled the Warrior punter after a bad snap. The Crusaders took over the ball at the Wisconsin Lutheran 18-yard line with 10:04 left in the fourth quarter but could not convert.

On the next Warrior possession, Ben Baskin recovered a Warrior fumble at the Wisconsin Lutheran 48-yard line. The Crusaders advanced the ball to the 8-yard line when Mike Crawford ran the ball in to reduce the deficit to 35-18. Kipp Hefftner caught a pass from Chromy for the two-point conversion to round out the scoring for the Crusaders.

Dupre led all receivers with seven catches for 130 yards and a touchdown. On defense, Manion had 13 total tackles, one tackle for a loss and one forced fumble. Phil Sturm also had 13 tackles with two tackles for loss, a forced fumble, an assisted sack and a pass breakup.

The Crusaders finish the season at 0-10 overall and 0-7 in the first year of Northern Athletic Conference football.