New Cast, Same Results for Crespi

REDLANDS —  Tim Lins says he doesn’t mind all the talk about graduated tailback Russell White or former Coach Bill Redell and the Crespi High teams of the past.

“I don’t mind at all,” the first-year Celt coach said. “Because they put the light on the school.”

It will be some time before Lins’ career can be accurately gauged, but after one week he is on even terms with Crespi teams of the recent past. For the third consecutive season, the Celts failed to win their opener, dropping a 17-7 decision to Redlands on Friday night at University of Redlands.

Two years ago, the Celts entered the season ranked No. 1 in the nation and opened with a 17-17 tie against the Terriers. Last season, Crespi opened once again amid high expectations, then got waxed, 28-6, by Redlands.

With White and Co. gone, however, the expectations were a little lower and the pressure wasn’t quite the same, right?

“I was sweating bullets,” Lins said.

So was Redlands Coach Mike Churchill, who was coaching his first game at Redlands after moving over from Citrus Belt League rival Riverside Poly.

Neither coach had an All-American like White to lean on, but Churchill had the next-best thing in junior running back Marcus Rogers, who gained 177 yards in 12 carries and scored both Terrier touchdowns.

“He’s magic,” Churchill said. “There’s not much else to say.”

There was also little one could say for Crespi’s ability to control the ball. The Celts committed three turnovers, two leading to Redlands scores.

With the score tied, 7-7, in the third quarter, Crespi quarterback Bill Canalez threw a pass that was intercepted by Gary Yesionek and returned to the Crespi 31-yard line. Six plays later, Rogers scored on a five-yard run over left tackle. Later in the third quarter, Canalez threw another interception, John Allen doing the honors. Canalez completed seven of 11 passes for 73 yards and threw two interceptions.

Julio Ocana finished the drive with a 21-yard field goal with nine minutes remaining for a 17-7 lead.

“We went into the game with a game plan not to throw picks and not to fumble,” Lins said. “That killed us.”

Unable to pass effectively, the Celts tried unsuccessfully to grind their way back into the game.

White’s replacement, Leonis Brown, gained 65 yards in 16 carries in a workmanlike effort, but Crespi was unable to break the big play as it had in the past.

Crespi’s only score came with 6:17 left in the first half. On fourth and goal, Lucas Freeman scored from the one to tie the score, 7-7.

Rogers had given the Terriers a 7-0 lead on their first drive of the game when he darted 59 yards for a touchdown.

“I’m definitely disappointed,” Lins said. “Some expected us to get beat worse. If it had been a game where we had been dominated, I might have been happy with the score.

“But I felt we were a better football team than Redlands.”