NORTH ROBINSON — Seneca East was the one Northern 10 team Colonel Crawford did not play during the regular-season. The regular-season contest with the Tigers was wiped out on the COVID-shortened schedule.
But the playoffs gave the Eagles a chance to complete a perfect season against all Northern 10 competition, and on Saturday night coach Ryan Teglovic’s team took full advantage of it. Second-seeded Colonel Crawford convincingly dismissed their league rival 44-6 in a Division VI, Region 22 playoff football game.
Tristan Cross ran for 170 yards and four touchdowns, while teammate Cole Hamilton contributed 167 yards and two touchdowns to ignite the blowout.
Cross powered in for a pair of short blasts in the first period, from 1 and 2 yards, respectively, to give the undefeated Eagles a 14-0 first-quarter lead. He added another score on a 7-yard dash early in the second quarter, and Hamilton found the end zone on runs of 2 and 8 yards to make it 35-0 at halftime.
Neither team scored in the third period, but Chase Walker got credit for a safety in the final quarter and Cross finished his night with a 31-yard jaunt to make it 44-0. The Tigers posted nine points in the fourth period to avert the shutout.
Colonel Crawford carved out a robust advantage in total yards (462-262), rushing yards (372-118) and first downs (16-14). Quarterback Brock Ritzhaupt was 4-of-7 passing for 90 yards.
The Eagles’ defense forced four turnovers as Seneca East dropped to 4-4 on the season.
Colonel Crawford improves to 7-0 and will return to action at home next week against No. 7-seed Liberty Center. The Tigers bounced 10th-seeded Collins Western Reserve 42-18 on Saturday night.
