Injuries, Illness, Miscues Doom Lions Against Crusaders

The Hernando Christian Academy Lions (1-3) fell to the Ocala Christian Academy Crusaders (3-0) by a 52-0 margin on a sweltering Friday afternoon at the Lions’ Den. The visitors would weaponize their speed, power, and depth to overcome an early mishap during an otherwise stellar outing for the Crusaders. The home team was still recovering not just from the loss of their starting quarterback but a flu bug that had bitten the team throughout the week.

Lions Head Coach David Raley also noted that he’s only playing with “about 10 kids” that have football experience and only three that have played in their current roles for him before this year. The team’s dearth of experience at some positions is so tenuous that one of their starting cornerbacks received his uniform a week before their showdown with Ocala Christian. Coach Raley also noted how proud he was of Junior Deion Gadsen’s contributions after the game.

The Lions’ coach notes the biggest complication, naturally, was the prior week’s injury to his quarterback. Without Junior Caydon Williams’ speed and playmaking ability, Coach Raley’s squad was unable to overcome a handful of turnovers and other big plays in their matchup against the Crusaders.

“Thing is that my quarterback/safety, which is Caydon Williams, sprained his ankle last week and was not able to play today […] Jaden [Montzka] came in and learned to play quarterback this week and carried the load of that and play on defense,” said Coach Raley. “I’m very proud of him. It’s very difficult to replace a playmaker like Kayden. I mean, he took over the first game he played because of his speed, his elusiveness, and his ability to throw. So, all of these things we had to learn. Jayden did a fantastic job today. I’m so proud of him.”

The Lions would have some moments of excitement including an early effort play by the defense to force the ball out of RB Josh Davis’s hands. Less than four minutes into the contest, Davis’s would-be touchdown run turned into a touchback after the ball was forced out just before he got to the goal line.

The elation would be short-lived, though, as a 55-yard punt return touchdown by Ocala Senior Brandon Norman Junior got the scoring started on the next possession for the visitors. After a turnover on downs on HCA’s next offensive possession, the Crusaders would use a four-play drive to find paydirt again despite committing two penalties during that stretch. Senior QB Conrad Bloom would burst up the middle and sprint past the secondary for the 59-yard touchdown run.

Just after the start of the next quarter, HCA would commit their first turnover of the game by way of Junior Derrick Mcgill’s interception of Montzka. This set up the visitors for a quick one-play drive as Freshman Vincent Perrella took the snap and sped down the right side of the field for the score. Tack on a two-point conversion and another touchdown mere minutes later, and the visitors led 28-0 before half.

HCA would threaten inside the Crusaders redzone just before the intermission, but the Lions would simply run out of time. The second half continued in a similar manner as the visitors’ lead ballooned. With his returners clustered in the offensive line and secondaries, Coach Raley needs his athletes to play both directions. Without Caydon (ankle), and with other athletes not present or compromised (flu), these factors proved too great to overcome.

Montzka had the unenviable task of suddenly helming the offense full-time against the Crusaders, and his admirable efforts would not be enough to take down a squad that Coach Raley referred to as a playoff team. “My kids fought hard,” Coach Raley said. “I’m very proud of them.”

Moving forward, the Lions will travel to take on Lakeside Christian next week. Following the road Lions-Lions matchup, Coach Raley and company will return home to face the Sports Leadership and Management Spartans. HCA will continue to lean on the offensive line and hope to get Williams back on the field next week. They are working to get better every week, and despite the murderers’ row of opponents, the Lions’ coach has a plan.

The next three teams they play are in their conference, so Coach Raley hopes to peak around that time with a healthier crew and make a run for the playoffs. “Do not look at the score. Do not look at the schedule. Do not look at a record, but are we getting better and in the end, we’ll be where we want to be,” Coach Raley told his players.