This was a game the Tampa Catholic Crusaders had circled on their schedule all summer. It was time to avenge last season's 35-point loss to Indian Rocks Christian, and star recruits Nate Craig and Devan Barrett weren't about to let the same thing happen to start the 2015 regular season, as the Crusaders cruised to a 45-16 victory.
Craig, the #1 WR recruit in the nation, had 64 receiving yards, including a 38-yd TD reception, plus two interceptions, one returned 85 yards for a TD. His "dynamic duo" partner Barrett dazzled with three breakaway TD runs of 57, 59 and 40 yards, and finished the night with a career-high 233 yards.
Austin Sessums, the transfer from Wesley Chapel, had an outstanding performance in his first regular season game for the Crusaders, throwing for 213 yards and 2 TD. Darius Corbett had a 63-yd TD reception and Austin Speck returned an interception for a TD in the third quarter.
Indian Rocks Christian was without starting QB Garrett Ross-Johnson, who injured his thumb and will miss at least the first two weeks of the season. Palm Harbor U. transfer Deano Trlin, who was expected to start at WR, got the nod under center and performed admirably, tallying 112 passing yards and 39 rushing yards and a rush TD. Zeke McGaughy scored the other TD for the Golden Eagles and ended the night with 145 rushing yards on 13 carries.
Another top 20 opponent awaits Indian Rocks Christian, as they host CCC next week. Tampa Catholic will look for a 2-0 start when they host Sarasota Riverview.
Here are the other Week 1 scores from the Tampa Bay area:
- Plant 8, Colquitt Co. (GA) 42 - F
- Jacksonville Ed White 10, Lakeland 35 - F
- Manatee 21, Hoover (AL) 42 - F
- Auburndale 0, Winter Haven 22 - F
- Plant City 7, Armwood 49 - F
- Ridge Community 20, Lake Wales 22 - F
- Tampa Bay Tech 18, Jefferson 0 - F
- Lake Gibson 19, Kathleen 27 - F
- Hillsborough 7, Durant 16 - F
- Jesuit 39, Lakewood Ranch 6 - F
- Countryside 38, Dixie Hollins 6 - F
- Palmetto 31, Fort Myers 21 - F
- Tarpon Springs 0, Clearwater 38 - F
- Indian Rocks Christian at Tampa Catholic
- Bayshore 0, Braden River 42 - F
- East Bay 20, Freedom 17 - F/2OT
- Alonso 0, Sickles 16 - F
- Clearwater Central Catholic 34, Berkeley Prep 23 - F
- Victory Christian 6, Pasco 13 - F
- Seffner Christian 39, St. Pete Catholic 0 - F
- Zephyrhills Christian 6, Santa Fe 14 - F
- Gulf 3, Sunlake 41 - F
- Newsome 10, Bloomingdale 7 - F
- Largo 46, Seminole 13 - F
- Land O'Lakes 14, Wesley Chapel 7 - F
- Admiral Farragut 18, Carrollwood Day 22 - F
- Haines City 27, Lake Region 28 - F/OT
- Lakewood 28, Boca Ciega 6 - F
- Gibbs 12, St. Petersburg 18 - F
- Central 13, Springstead 7 - F
- Mulberry 0, Lakeland Christian 41 - F
- Palm Harbor University 14, East Lake 10 - F
- Middleton 34, Leto 6 - F
- Steinbrenner 13, Gaither 0 - F
- Wharton 35, King 7 - F
- Brandon 31, Strawberry Crest 3 - F
- Zephyrhills 26, Wiregrass Ranch 0 - F
- Bishop McLaughlin 49, All Saints 6 - F
- Nature Coast 27, Southeast 16 - F
- Tenoroc 6, Liberty 38 - F
- Lyman 27, Citrus 0 - F