HCA Football Makes Defensive Statement in Win at South Robeson

Junior running back Marcus Scarborough rushed for 137 yards and 2 touchdowns in the Crusader's 29-0 win against South Robeson

The Harrells Christian Academy Crusaders defeated South Robeson High School 29-0 to improve to 4-1 on the season.

The high octane Crusader offense did not disappoint against the South Robeson Mustangs. The HCA defense however was the real surprise after Friday night's performance. The Crusaders held the Mustangs to 174 total offensive yards and kept them out of the out of the end zone.

South Robeson won the toss to start the game but deferred to the second half. The Crusaders were quickly forced to punt. The Mustangs took over on their own 20. HCA's defense did not allow the Mustangs to find any offensive rhythm forcing them to punt. Senior, Fredrick Strickland, broke through the line and blocked the Mustang's punt giving the Crusaders the ball on the South Robeson 10 yard line.

The Crusaders were pushed back to the 15 yard line after a penalty but quickly bounced back and found the end zone on a 15 yard touchdown run by senior fullback Joseph Phaneuf. The Crusaders were not successful on the two point conversion attempt giving the Crusaders an early 6-0 lead.

The two teams continued to battle back and forth into the second quarter. The Crusaders extended their lead to 14-0 on a 37 yard touchdown run by junior Marcus Scarborough with 11:49 left to play in the first half.

The Crusader defense forced another three and out giving their high powered offense the ball back. Joseph Phaneuf punched the ball in for a touchdown after a long 60 yard drive to extend the Crusader lead to 22-0 with 2:25 left to play in the second quarter.

At the half the Crusaders found themselves leading 22-0. Marcus Scarborough led the Crusader rushing attack at the half with 108 yards on 13 carries and 1 touchdown.

South Robeson came out of halftime firing on offense. The Mustangs marched down the field with no problem. The Crusaders ,however, forced a fumble that was recovered by Davonta Best on the HCA 4  yard line.

The Crusaders could not convert off of the turnover and headed into the 4th quarter with a 22-0 lead over the Mustangs.

Marcus Scarborough found the end zone for his second touchdown of the night this time from 8 yards out to extend the Crusader lead to 29-0 with 6:11 left in the game.

The Crusaders stopped the Mustangs again and ran the clock out to seal the win.

Marcus Scarborough finished the game with 137 yards on 19 carries and 2 touchdowns. Joseph Phaneuf was a key contributor to the Crusader offensive attack with 91 yards on 15 carries and 2 touchdowns.

Head Coach Winfred Johnson excitedly stated after the game, "If you would have told me we would be 4-1 heading into our bye week I would have taken it in a heartbeat," he continued, "The key to our success is blocking. When our boys block well and our backs hit the holes hard we are a great offensive team and that is exactly what we did tonight."

The Crusaders head into a much needed bye week with a record of 4-1. The Crusaders will begin conference play at Wake Christian in two weeks on Friday October 3.

Follow HCA Athletics on twitter: @hca_athletics

Andrew Miller
HCA Athletics
Sports Reporter

HCA Outlast Warren County in Offensive Shootout

Senior fullback, Joseph Phaneuf searches for a seem to break through for a touchdown. 

Harrells Christian Academy defeated Warren County 36-32 to improve their record to 3-0 on the season.

The Crusader rushing attack entered the highly anticipated offensive matchup against Warren County ranked #3 in the state and #11 in the nation in total rushing yards with 828 yards.

The Crusaders received to start the game. HCA marched down the field led by senior tailback Quinton Faison. Joseph Phaneuf capped off the long drive with a 1 yard touchdown run to give the Crusaders an early 6-0 after a failed two point conversion attempt.

Warren County quickly answered back with a long drive ending in a 5 yard touchdown run to tie the game 6-6 with 55 seconds left in the 1st quarter.

At the end of the first quarter the game was tied at 6-6. Quinton Faison led the Crusader offense with 42 yards in the 1st quarter.

The Crusaders did not take long to find the end zone once again. Jospeh Phaneuf punched in his second score of the game from 8 yards out to extend the HCA lead to 14-6 after a converted two point conversion.

Once again Warren County answered with a touchdown. The Eagles found the end zone on a 19 yard touchdown run to tighten the HCA lead to 14-12 with 5:59 left to play in the half.

The two teams battled with a pair of failed offensive drives. Warren County forced the Crusaders to punt giving the Eagles the ball on the Warren County 31. Davonta Best recovered a Warren County fumble to give the Crusaders the ball back on the Eagles 30 yard line with 23 seconds left in the half.

Marcus Scarborough carried the ball into the end zone from 30 yards out on the ensuing play to extend the Crusaders lead to 20-12.

HCA found themselves leading 20-12 at the half.

Warren County received to start the second half but was stopped on a 4th down conversion attempt. HCA retained possession on their own 44 yard line.

Davonta Best found the end zone on the ensuing Crusader drive on a 11 yard touchdown run to lengthen the HCA lead to 28-12 with 7:13 left in the 3rd quarter.

Warren County showed signs of an answer to the Crusader score but their momentum was halted by a fumble that was returned 76 yards for a touchdown by , senior, Justin Smith to extend the Crusader lead to 36-12 in the closing stages of the 3rd quarter.

Justin Smiths sprints towards the end zone after a fumble recovery.

HCA looked as though they were in control and were on their way to an easy victory when the Eagles forced a fumble and returned the ball 78 yards for a touchdown to tighten the scoring margin to 36-18 with 10:35 left in the game.

The Crusaders were then forced to punt on their next possession. Warren County found the end zone again on their next possession form 5 yards out to make the score 36-26 with 4:19 left in the game.

The Crusaders were rolling and looking to run out the clock when Warren County forced a fumble to give the Eagles the ball back on the HCA 39.

Warren County quickly converted off the Crusader turnover with a 1 yard touchdown run to put the Eagles within 4 points 36-32 with 1:55 left to play.

The Eagles lined up for an onside kick but could not execute . The ball did not roll 10 yards giving the Crusaders the ball on the Warren County 44.

HCA celebrated and ran the clock out to clinch their third win of the season 36-32.

The Crusader coaching staff told their team, " Way to man up again tonight. That game was tough and came down to who converted their two point conversions. Boys, you bowed your neck and stopped their 2 point conversions and we converted ours. That was the difference, right there."

Marcus Scarborough led the Crusader rushing attack with 92 yards on 17 carries and 1 touchdown. Joseph Phaneuf also contributed to the offensive success with 73 yards on 16 carries with 2 touchdowns. OH Rouse led the Crusader defense in tackles with 9 total tackles.

The Crusaders look to extend their record to 4-0 next week as they travel to 3 time defending State Champion Davidson Day School.

Follow HCA Athletics on twitter: @hca_athletics

HCA Edges Past East Montgomery

The Harrells Christian Academy football team defeated East Montgomery High School 27-14 to improve their overall season record to 2-0.

East Montgomery received the ball to start the game but their offensive drive was quickly shut down by the Crusader defense forcing a punt. The Crusaders started out of the gate quickly by scoring on the ensuing drive by way of a 44 yard touchdown run by junior, Davonta Best, to give the Crusaders an early 7-0 lead.

Davonta Best trots into the end zone for a 44 yard touchdown run.

The two teams continued to battle through the remainder of the 1st quarter but neither team could produce enough offensive fire power to find the end zone. The Crusaders led at the end of the first quarter 7-0.

The two teams continued to struggle offensively in the early stages of the 2nd quarter. The Crusaders hurt themselves by penalties all throughout the game. OH Rouse connected with running back, Marcus Scarborough, for a passing touchdown but was called back for an offensive holding penalty. The Crusader offense bounced back from the penalties to find the endzone, this time on a 29 yard touchdown run by Marcus Scarborough. The Crusaders extra point attempt was no good extending the Crusader lead to 13-0 with 7:16 left in the second quarter.

The latter part of the 2nd quarter remained scoreless as both teams stumbled on the offensive side of the ball. The Crusaders led the Eagles 13-0 at the half. Marcus Scarborough led the Crusader's first half offensive attack with 83 yards on 9 carries with 1 touchdown.

At the start of the 3rd quarter both teams struggled to gain offensive momentum. The Crusaders then pieced together a long drive that was capped off by a 6 yard touchdown run by senior halfback, Quinton Faison. Joseph Phaneuf punched in the 2 point conversion to extend the HCA lead to 21-0 with 8:39 left in the 3rd quarter.

The Crusaders seemed to fall asleep heading to the end of the 3rd quarter as the Eagles quickly bounced back and scored on a 17 yard quarterback scramble to tighten the HCA lead to 21-6 after a missed extra point.

The Crusaders led the Eagles 21-6 at the end of the 3rd quarter.

East Montgomery continued to throw counter punches by crossing the goal line once again on a 16 yard touchdown pass followed by a converted two point conversion to make the score 21-14 with 11:00 left to play.

The Crusaders answered with a long, clock wrenching drive that was capped off by a 7 yard touchdown run by Marcus Scarborough to amplify the Crusaders lead to 27-14 after a failed extra point attempt with only 3:35 left for an Eagles' counterattack.

The Eagles marched down the field but were forced into a 4th down and long situation. The Crusader fans rose to their feet to cheer on the HCA defense for the potential game ending play for the Eagles. The East Montgomery quarterback hurled a pass towards the first down marker only to be intercepted by Marcus Scarborough at the HCA 16 yard line to give his team the ball back with 1:46 left to play.

The hope ending interception by Scarborough put an exclamation point on the Crusaders victory after many struggles on the offensive side of the ball.

Assistant Coach Clayton Hall preached to his team after the game, "That took guts and heart boys. You all grew as men tonight."

The Crusader offense was led by Marcus Scarborough with 140 yards on 22 carries and 2 touchdowns. Other notable offensive contributors in the balanced running game were Quinton Faison who rushed for 74 yards on 9 carries and 1 touchdown, and Joseph Phaneuf who rushed for 73 yards on 16 carries. Davonta Best also contributed to the high powered HCA running attack with 5 carries for 68 yards and one touchdown.

The Crusaders look to extend their record to 3-0 next week, at home, against the Warren County Eagles who enter the game with a record of 1-0.


Follow HCA Athletics on twitter: @hca_athletics