Crespi’s Sure-Shot Offense Blows Santa Barbara Away

Bill Redell cocked his double-barreled offensive shotgun and blasted Santa Barbara High, 55-0, Friday night at Crespi.

With tailback Russell White rushing for a school-record 266 yards on 16 carries and fullback J. J. Lasley rushing for a career-high 153 yards on 7 carries, Redell’s Celts rolled up 636 yards total offense and dominated the game from the beginning.

“I didn’t expect to win like this,” Redell said. “We weren’t trying to run the score up or anything.”

White set the tone for the game on Crespi’s first play from scrimmage. With the ball on the Celts’ six-yard line, White burst through the middle, spun away from one tackler and scooted 94 yards for a touchdown.

“I kind of glanced at the end zone when I was in the backfield,” White said.

Before leaving the game to a standing ovation with 1:01 left in the third quarter, White added a 57-yard touchdown run in the second quarter and another touchdown on a one-yard dive in the third quarter.

“Russell sure was hot tonight,” Redell said. “We used him only for three series in the second half just so he could get some work. He could have rushed for 350 yards.”

Lasley ran for touchdowns on his first three carries. On the first play of Crespi’s second possession, Lasley ran off tackle for a 59-yard touchdown. Lasley added a one-yard touchdown run in the second quarter and dashed 61 yards for a score in the third quarter.

“I have to give all the credit to the line,” Lasley said. “They gave me five yards to cut any way I wanted every time I ran the ball. Anybody could have ran the ball”

Said White: “Our line is where it’s at. If they come together, we can do anything we want.”

Crespi (2-0-1), whose defensive line also dominated the game, limited Santa Barbara (2-1) to 154 yards in total offense, including 41 yards rushing.

Crespi quarterback Ron Redell, alternating with starter Rob O’Byrne, completed 7 of 8 passes for 94 yards, including a 21-yard touchdown pass to Eric Kieling for Crespi’s final score in the fourth quarter. Redell also ran 16 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Redell gained 21 yards on three carries to contribute to Crespi’s 477 rushing yards.

“We usually go with one quarterback, but Ron’s a good quarterback and I wanted to him to get some experience,” Redell said.

O’Byrne completed 4 of 5 passes for 65 yards. Kieling caught 8 passes for 130 yards and one touchdown.

Santa Barbara quarterbacks Greg Howe and Michael Perez were harassed the entire game by Crespi’s defense. Howe completed 10 of 21 passes for 91 yards and one interception. Perez completed just 3 of 8 for 20 yards.

Tailback Gerardo Gil led Santa Barbara with 28 yards rushing, 15 fewer than his entire team amassed.