Football, volleyball contests scheduled for Sept. 10 cancelled

The Crane Mustangs rushed for 328 yards and four touchdowns on their way to a 36-34 season-opening win over Sherman at the Dufur Classic on Friday, Sept. 2.

Davis Steeves led the Mustangs’ rushing attack with 102 yards on 23 carries and one score, Jacob Dunn added 92 yards on 15 attempts, and Jay Jay Balowski rushed for 81 yards and three touchdowns on seven carries.

After receiving the opening kickoff, Crane put together a 12-play, 51-yard drive, capped off by Balowski’s 8-yard scoring run.

The Mustangs increased their lead to 12-0 on their next possession as Balowski broke loose for a 52-yard touchdown run.

With just over six minutes left in the first half, Crane went up 20-0 on a two-yard run by Steeves, and a two-point conversion run by Balowski.

Sherman finally got on the scoreboard on their first possession of the third quarter. Facing a third-and-8, Kyle Fields connected with Jacob Justesen for a 64-yard touchdown pass, and the two-point conversion was good, making it 20-8.

Following a punt by Crane, the Huskies cut the lead to 20-14 on a 15-yard scoring pass from Fields to Maverick Wilson.

The Mustangs started their next drive at their own 42, and made the score 28-14 on a five-yard scoring run by Balowski and a two-point conversion run by Steeves.

On Sherman’s next possession, Wilson got loose for a 62-yard gain to the Crane 1, and Isaiah Coles carried it into the end zone on the next play. Fields threw to Justesen for the two-point conversion, and the Huskies were within 28-22.

Crane was forced out on downs on their next possession, and the Huskies began their next drive at their own 41. On fourth-and-11, Fields found Justesen open for a 60-yard touchdown pass, tying the score at 28-28.

Crane regained the lead on their next possession as Steeves hauled in a pass from Miles Maupin and raced 65 yards for the go-ahead score. Balowski ran in the two-point try to give Mustangs an eight-point lead.

Starting at their own 30 with 3:39 left in the game,  the Huskies moved down the field and scored on a 20-yard pass from Fields to Justesen.

The two-point conversion pass fell incomplete, and Crane was able to run out the clock for the win.

Maupin completed four of eight passes for 85 yards and one score, and rushed for 59 yards on 13 carries.

Steeves was the leading receiver for Crane with three receptions for 71 yards and one TD. Balowski caught one pass for 14 yards.

Crane       12     8     0   16     36

Sherman    0     0   14   20     34

The Crane football and volleyball games with Hosanna Christian scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 10, have been cancelled.

The Crane JV game with Grant Union, scheduled for Monday, Sept. 12, has also been cancelled.