FOOTBALL: Kermit 28, Crane 14

KERMIT The Yellow Jackets’ defense intercepted four passes and recovered two fumbles Friday en route to a 28-14 victory over Crane in a critical District 2-2A Division I game.

PHOTO GALLERY: Crane vs. Kermit (mobile)

Crane quarterback Tyler Althof lost a fumble on the third play of the game, giving Kermit the ball on the Golden Cranes’ 13-yard line. Rene Moralez proceeded to score on a 5-yard run.

In the third quarter, Kermit’s Austin Awbrey returned a touchdown 25 yards for a touchdown. After the 2-point conversion, Kermit (5-3 overall, 3-1 district) led 21-7 at Walton Field.

The Yellow Jackets needed all the help they could get from their defense and special teams — Erik Montoya returned the opening kickoff of the second half 95 yards for a touchdown — because the offense only gained 119 total yards.

Crane dropped to 4-4 overall and 1-3 in district.

>> Kermit 28, Crane 14

Crane........................ 0.... 7     7     0   —    14

Kermit....................... 7.... 0   14     7   —    28

SCORING SUMMARY

First Quarter

Kermit: Rene Moralez 5 run (Erik Montonya kick), 8:50.

Second Quarter

Crane: Dalton DeGraffenreid 3 pass from Tyler Althof (Marco Vergara kick), 8:16.

Third Quarter

Kermit: Erik Montoya 95 kickoff return (Erik Montoya kick failed), 11:42.

Kermit: Austin Awbrey 25 interception return (Joe Pearson run).

Crane: Dalton DeGraffenreid 56 pass from Tyler Althof (Maro Vergara kick), 1:22.

Fourth Quarter

Kermit: Joe Pearson 1 run (Erik Montoya kick), 5:34.

———

TEAM STATISTICS

Yardstick                       Crane               Kermit

First Downs........................ 13...................... 4

Total Yards...................... 274.................. 119

Rushes-Yards.............. 27-84............... 40-94

Passing Yards................. 190.................... 25

Passing.................... 13-33-4............... 2-2-0

Fumbles-Lost................... 2-2................... 1-1

Punts-Avg....................... 2-37.............. 5-40.2

Penalties-Yards........... 12-95................. 7-45

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing

Crane: Tyler Althof 12-59, Steve Heredia 9-11, Austin Sandoval 4-(-10), Gunner Tatum 3-11, Dalton DeGraffenreid 1-13.

Kermit: Mikey Valdez 2-11, Isaac Polanco 10-36, Rene Moralez 4-11, Erik Montoya 1-1, Brandon Meneses 2-0, Aaron Pando 1-0, Devin Awbrey 10-19, Joe Pearson 6-2, Austin Awbrey 1-2, Xavier Quiroz 1-7, Jacob Carrasco 1-(-5).

Passing

Crane: Tyler Althof Sandoval 1-1-0 for 15 yards.

Kermit: Joe Pearson 2-2-0 for 25 yards.

Receiving

Crane: Dalton DeGraffenreid 8-150, Austin Sandoval 2-26, Gunner Tatum 2-(-7), Chance Kennedy 1-20.

Kermit: Brandon Meneses 2-25.