YATES CENTER — Nick McAnulty has a simple message for his Crest High squad this year.
If you don’t have the ball, you better be blocking.
Message delivered.
The Lancers opened the 2022 season Friday with a thunderous demonstration of how lethal they can be, scoring 34 points in the first quarter en route to a 58-0 win over Yates Center.
“We told them our focus,” McAnulty said. “We’re gonna be hitters. We’re not gonna take the punishment. We’re gonna deliver the blows. We gave our guys room to run, and if our backs get a crease, they’re going.”
Lancer quarterback Ethan Godderz was particularly devastating in the first quarter, scoring on runs of 45, 13 and 66 yards, while connecting with Stetson Setter for a 45-yard touchdown in between.
His 66-yard jaunt late in the first quarter pushed Crest ahead 34-0.
All-everything running back Holden Barker picked up the baton from there, scoring on runs of 76, 13 and 17 yards in the second quarter to cap the scoring.
It took the Lancers 17 plays from scrimmage to score its seven touchdowns against an overmatched Yates Center defense.
Crest’s defense was equally dominant, limiting the rebuilding Wildcats to a net of 12 yards of total offense, pummeling Yates Center backs Cash Cummings, Shane Weber, Emmit George and Jayston Rice as they ventured near the line of scrimmage.
“We’re hungry right now,” McAnulty said. “We really focused on our conditioning. Now, the guys are flying around and having fun.”
Godderz carried four times for 105 yards. The only time he didn’t score was when he ran down a bad snap on the Lancers’ first play from scrimmage.
Barker carried seven times for 199 yards.
Godderz completed all three of his pass attempts for 102 yards and a touchdown, the 45-yarder to Setter. Karter Miller added one catch for 35 yards; Ryan Golden had a 22-yard reception.
“Having Stetson back is gonna be big for us,” McAnulty said. “We didn’t have him at all last year. He’s a guy who really changes our passing game, and Ethan keeps improving every time out. I trust him to make every throw we have.”
Cummings repeatedly tried to find non-existent openings in the line for a Yates Center squad looking to rebuild after losing several standouts to graduation from last season’s squad. He netted seven yards on 16 carries.
Crest (1-0) looks to keep up its momentum for its home opener Friday against Chase County. Yates Center tries its hand again with another Three Rivers League opponent with a road tilt at Marmaton Valley.
Crest (34-24-x-x—58)
Yates Center (0-0-x-x—0)
How they scored
Crest — Godderz 45 yd run (run failed)
Crest — Godderz 13 yd run (run failed)
Crest — Setter 8 yd run (Godderz run)
Crest — Setter 45 yd pass from Godderz (pass failed)
