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Crusaders Advance To 2A Final

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By MATTHEW POSTINS Tribune correspondent

Published: December 1, 2007

HOMESTEAD - Christian Green is no longer just an athlete playing quarterback.

The lanky sophomore accounted for 91 rushing yards and two touchdowns, and threw for 144 yards and a score, to lead Tampa Catholic to a 28-21 Class 2A state semifinal victory over Miami Archbishop Carroll on Friday night at Harris Field.

The Crusaders (11-2) will face Madison County (a 47-20 winner against Bushnell South Sumter) in the 2A state championship game at 7 p.m. next Saturday at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando.

That invitation is due in no small measure to Green, who has done a lot of growing up this year.

"At the beginning of camp he was just being an athlete doing his thing," senior running back Drew Zink said. "Now he's learned how to play quarterback. He understands his reads. He's throwing the ball well. He's a quarterback. That's what he is."

The Crusaders needed to rely more on Green with Zink out of the game, and he came through by sparking a 21-point second quarter with a 56-yard TD run to break a 7-7 tie.

From the Crusaders 44, Green faked a handoff and ran right. He used a look to freeze the outside defender into thinking he would pass and then sprinted toward the sideline. The only defender capable of catching him - the Bulldogs' Terrance Taylor - slid off of him.

Green followed that touchdown with a 27-yard touchdown pass to Eric Gerken, who ran a perfect slant in between zone defenders, and a 4-yard touchdown run to give the Crusaders a 28-7 lead entering halftime.

Green completed his first seven passes and didn't commit a turnover.

"We told him move the chains, take what they give you, take our shots and protect the football," Tampa Catholic coach Bob Herniquez said. "That's what he did."

Green's biggest possession, in his mind, came on TC's last drive, as the Bulldogs (8-4) rallied furiously in the second half.

The Bulldogs found a formula that worked, throwing jump balls to 6-foot-5 receiver Rodney Smith to set up a pair of touchdown runs by Auburn commitment George Baker, the second coming with 6:02 to play in the game. Miami-Dade County's rushing leader among 1A-3A schools scored three times, but only rushed for 50 yards.

Tampa Catholic took over at their own 30 and went to work, acquiring two first downs, keeping the ball in play and whittling the clock down to less than a minute before punting the ball away to the Carroll 14 with less that 30 seconds remaining.

"I think that was the key drive of the game," Green said. "In the playoffs that's the key - getting first downs when you need them."

The Crusader defense gave up their first offensive touchdowns of the postseason, but the unit never broke. Ralph Grover's interception in the third quarter turned away one drive and the defense forced the Bulldog offense into scoring drives of 12 and 8 plays in the second half, chewing up precious clock.

"That's what our coaches preach when we get in the 20," Crusaders defensive tackle Marco Mendoza said. "We bend but don't break."

Zink, who missed the game due to an injured ankle, has a 70 percent shot at playing in next week's state championship game, Henriquez said.

TC-Broidy 1 run (McLaughlin kick)

TC-Green 56 run (McLaughlin kick)

TC-Gerken 27 pass from Green

(McLaughlin kick)

TC-Green 4 run (McLaughlin kick)

AC-Baker 1 run (Pinon kick)

AC-Baker 4 run (Pinon kick)

mpostins@pop.tampatrib.com.

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