Crete-Monee powers past Bloom

Updated: September 30, 2011 11:54PM

While No. 5 Crete-Monee’s high-scoring offense was sputtering in the first half, the Warriors’ defense was more than up to the task.

The end result: Host Crete-Monee knocked off Bloom 32-7 in Southland Athletic Conference play Friday night.

Crete-Monee (6-0, 2-0) led just 12-7 at the half on a pair of touchdown passes from Marcus Terrell to LaQuan Treadwell. But the Warriors turned the ball over twice on fumbles, including one late in the half that allowed Bloom (1-5, 0-2) to cut the lead to 12-7.

“We knew the offense was struggling in the first half, so we had to keep us in the game,” said Michigan-bound safety Anthony Stanford, who had two second-half interceptions. “Our offense played better in the second half and we kept playing hard on defense.”

Crete-Monee scored on a 77-yard drive and a 99-yard drive in the second half. Kyle Tilley, who rushed 11 times for 55 yards in the second half, scored on a two-yard run to cap the first drive and Terrell hit Brandon Sykes for a five-yard touchdown pass to cap the second drive.

The final touchdown came on an 18-yard interception return by Aaron Moore.

“Our defense doesn’t get the credit it deserves,” Crete-Monee coach Jerry Verde said. “It’s the nature of high school football that the offense gets all the notoriety. But our kids played hard on defense all night.”

Bloom managed just 46 yards rushing and 23 passing. The Blazing Trojans’ only touchdown came after a fumble recovery on the 12. Quarterback LaVante Blackful took it in on the first play from scrimmage.

With the victory, Crete-Monee is off to its best start since 1952.

“It feels good to be 6-0,” Tilley said. “But we still have work to do.”

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