OLIVESBURG — It was a fireworks celebration that reached into heaven.
Moments after Crestview finished off Northmor 27-6 on Friday night, an explosion of light and sound filled the sky as Cougar players, coaches and fans let loose a gutteral roar that’s been a long time coming.
You can bet it made Walker Rey Ramsay smile.
The season-opening win was dedicated by the entire Crestview community to the memory of Ramsay, who would have been a senior member of the team this season. The 17-year-old died unexpectedly May 29 after suffering a seizure in the middle of the night.
His father, Greg Ramsay, spoke to the Cougars in the locker-room after the win, thanking them for making his family part of their family. His 12-year-old daughter, Skyler, led the team onto the field before the game, wearing her brother’s No. 12 jersey.
Though Crestview launched fireworks after each touchdown, perhaps the most poignant came after the initial score when 12 explosions paid salute to Ramsay’s number.
“The brotherhood these guys have put together is unbelievable,” Greg Ramsay said afterward. “None of this is about me. It’s about these boys and the struggles they have been through.
“(Walker) would have been very proud of how they played tonight. He started here playing football in the fourth grade and was a part of this whole senior class. These boys brought it home for him tonight.”
Crestview dominated the game, building a 27-0 lead behind a 1-yard run by junior Colton Campbell, a 2-yard run by junior Jay Oswalt, a 36-yard run by junior Blake Sweet and an 85-yard kickoff return by junior Christian Durbin.
It’s fair to say the win brought a smile — and sigh of relief — from second-year head coach Dan Mager.
“I told my wife before the game this is maybe the most nervous pre-game I have experienced,” Mager said. “This entire community was looking forward to this game.
“It was such an emotional night and emotion can lead to great performances or they can hurt you. To really honor Walker, we needed to win this game tonight.”
Crestview rushed for 237 yards on 44 carries, led by Sweet’s 87 on eight attempts. Junior quarterback Jay Oswalt completed four of 10 passes for 59 yards.
“I thought we ran the ball really well tonight. We struggled in the passing game, but I think it’s just a matter of shoring up our pass protection,” Mager said.
The Crestview defense was stifling, holding the Knights to less than 100 yards of total offense. The only Northmor score came on a 38-yard yard punt return by junior Demetrius Johnson late in the fourth quarter.
Crestview travels to Hillsdale next Friday for a game that will be a homecoming for Mager at the school where he served as an assistant. Northmor hosts Worthington Christian that same night.
