Worn-out Crusaders fall at Pine Lake Prep
MOORESVILLE, N.C. – Christ the King was in the game, still very much in striking distance of notching the second-year program’s elusive first victory, as the Crusaders only trailed Mooresville Pine Lake Prep 8-0 at halftime Thursday night.
But a thin roster, along with a spate of injuries, ultimately caught up with the Crusaders.
As Christ the King’s players began to wear down, Pine Lake Prep went on to handle them in the second half and hand the Crusaders a 45-0 defeat in a game that was moved up a day because of weather concerns.
It was the Crusaders’ third loss in a row this season and their 14th consecutive defeat overall.
The deciding factor in Thursday’s loss was nothing new from Christ the King coach Jay Alverson’s perspective.
“Fatigue,” he said. “Having as few kids as we did against a team like Pine Lake Prep led to fatigue and mistakes. We need more bodies.”
Trailing by just eight at the midway point, the Crusaders opened the second half with an onside kick but were whistled for being off sides. The Crusader defense held Pine Lake Prep on the ensuing series, but then injuries began to take a toll.
Before game’s end Thursday, Christ the King got down to its third-string center. That issue resulted in 13 consecutive errors on center-quarterback exchanges and one instance when the Crusaders moved from the 40-yard line back to their own 2.
Alverson said he still feels the Crusaders (0-3) found some positives in Thursday’s defeat.
“The big positive is that we didn’t quit,” Alverson said. “We went into that game outmanned, and we held them to one score in the first half. We realize that we aren’t far from being a team that can compete on a weekly basis once we just get more numbers.
“We have 24 kids on the roster now,” Alverson continued, “but at one point last week (in a loss at Asheville School), we had 14 kids healthy. We expect to be back up to 22 next week (against Victory Christian).”
MOORESVILLE, N.C. – Christ the King was in the game, still very much in striking distance of notching the second-year program’s elusive first victory, as the Crusaders only trailed Mooresville Pine Lake Prep 8-0 at halftime Thursday night.
But a thin roster, along with a spate of injuries, ultimately caught up with the Crusaders.
As Christ the King’s players began to wear down, Pine Lake Prep went on to handle them in the second half and hand the Crusaders a 45-0 defeat in a game that was moved up a day because of weather concerns.
It was the Crusaders’ third loss in a row this season and their 14th consecutive defeat overall.
The deciding factor in Thursday’s loss was nothing new from Christ the King coach Jay Alverson’s perspective.
“Fatigue,” he said. “Having as few kids as we did against a team like Pine Lake Prep led to fatigue and mistakes. We need more bodies.”
Trailing by just eight at the midway point, the Crusaders opened the second half with an onside kick but were whistled for being off sides. The Crusader defense held Pine Lake Prep on the ensuing series, but then injuries began to take a toll.
Before game’s end Thursday, Christ the King got down to its third-string center. That issue resulted in 13 consecutive errors on center-quarterback exchanges and one instance when the Crusaders moved from the 40-yard line back to their own 2.
Alverson said he still feels the Crusaders (0-3) found some positives in Thursday’s defeat.
“The big positive is that we didn’t quit,” Alverson said. “We went into that game outmanned, and we held them to one score in the first half. We realize that we aren’t far from being a team that can compete on a weekly basis once we just get more numbers.
“We have 24 kids on the roster now,” Alverson continued, “but at one point last week (in a loss at Asheville School), we had 14 kids healthy. We expect to be back up to 22 next week (against Victory Christian).”
