NORTH ROBINSON — Thew & Weithman sounds like the name of a dreaded law firm. In reality it’s the combination fueling Colonel Crawford’s terrifying big-play offense.
On Thursday night, the duo got off to a highlight-reel start, accounting for all but one of the Eagles’ touchdowns in a 45-21 season-opening victory over Fairbanks.
Senior quarterback Roen Thew ran for two scores and passed for two more. Senior receiver Parker Weithman caught a TD pass, scored on a long run, and added a kickoff return for a touchdown.
The fuse was lit almost immediately.
Just 13 seconds into the contest, Thew took the first snap, streaked to the end, turned the corner and sprinted 80 yards for a touchdown to make it 6-0.
Midway through the first quarter, Thew connected with Weithman for an 11-yard TD pass and a 12-0 advantage. Teammate Avery Powers got in on the big-play act with a 46-yard bolt to push C.C. in front 18-0.
Finally, Fairbanks countered when Max Winner rolled in on a 25-yard dash to slice the gap to 18-7 at the end of the first 12 minutes.
Thew got busy again midway through the second period with a TD pass to Carson Rader to push the Eagles to a 25-7 halftime advantage.
Thew scored on another sweep in the third quarter, this one from the 4, as C.C. stretched the margin to 32-7. On the next possession, Weithman’s 35-yard touchdown dash started the running clock with a 39-7 bulge heading to the fourth period.
The Panthers rallied for a couple of TDs in the final frame to stop the running clock. But after the second score, Weithman peeled off a 99-yard kickoff return to finish it.
Colonel Crawford embarks on a lengthy road trip next week, heading to southern Ohio to meet Fairfield Union.
(Photos by Diane Bemiller)
