By Mark Carlisle

Independent Newsmedia

After turning the ball over twice and not yet completing a pass, Northwest Christian was lucky to be tied at the half. Shutdown defense, a steady run game and a completion when it counted gave the Crusaders a 31-14 victory over Wickenburg Friday night at Northwest Christian High School in Phoenix to kickoff league play.

It was close until the end though, with the Crusaders up by just a field goal with three and half minutes left.

“Yeah, we didn’t play well in the first half, and you know what? Sometimes that happens,” said Northwest Christian coach David Inness. “What I like is we didn’t panic. Our defense played really well in the second half; offense got going.”

Northwest Christian (5-1, 1-0) got off to a good start in pursuit of a third straight 3A West section championship. Wickenburg (4-2, 0-1) was the Crusaders’ stiffest competition for the crown last year, with their only league loss coming to the Crusaders. Inness thinks the same might happen this year.

“The league’s good, but Wickenburg’s by far — I mean, they’re going to win the rest of their games. They’re good,” he said.

Northwest Christian junior quarterback Jonathan Metzger (7) looks to pass downfield against Wickenburg during the first half of their Division 3A football game on Friday Sept. 28, 2018. Inness swapped quarterbacks at halftime after his regular signal caller had been ineffective in the first half. Junior Jonathan Metzger did not complete any of his eight passes, though he did have two rushes for nine yards including a touchdown on a QB sneak.

Though Metzger had some overthrows, including missing an open receiver early for what would have been a 38-yard touchdown, Inness pointed out there was plenty more going wrong with the offense.

“It wasn’t Metzgy’s fault. We ran a few wrong routes, we didn’t catch the ball, didn’t block at times,” he said.

Junior Easton Meier was under center for the Crusaders in the second half. He’d had a rough first half too, throwing an interception on his only first-half attempt. Inness said his coaching staff wanted a mobile quarterback in the second half.

“We were just trying to go with the hot hand… We wanted more of the run-threat, and (Meier) took off a couple times,” Inness said.

Northwest Christian junior quarterback Easton Meier (6) looks to pass against Wickenburg during the second half of their Division 3A football game on Friday Sept. 28, 2018. Most of Meier’s damage in the second half came on the ground, rushing six times for 39 yards, though he did fumble in the red zone, which kept the Wranglers close. Meier threw only four times in the half, completing two, but the key play was a 9-yard score to senior Jordan Ehlers that gave Northwest Christian a two-score lead with just over three minutes left to secure the game.

Senior workhorse back Aren Van Hofwegen carried the Crusader offense for most of the day, totaling 154 yards on 25 carries. Inness’ son Dustin, a senior, added 48 yards on six carries.

Junior Cameron Adams led off scoring with a 43-yard punt return touchdown. The seven special team points helped the Crusaders survive a poor offensive opening half.

While Northwest Christian could only move the ball through their running backs in the first half, Wickenburg was just the opposite.

The Wranglers’ lead back, senior Kegan Lindsey, ran for just 12 yards on 14 attempts. Instead, the offense relied on senior quarterback Mike Mindnich, who completed 7 of 14 passes in the first half for 106 yards, two touchdowns and no turnovers.

Mindnich created opportunities by extending plays scrambling across the backfield and making would-be sackers miss. The most impressive highlight came on a 31-yard touchdown pass to senior Isaac Olson, who caught both Wrangler touchdowns and had an interception and forced and recovered a fumble on defense.

The Crusader defense cracked down on Mindnich in the second half. He again threw 14 times but completed only three passes. Until a 32-yard desperation completion in the final minute, down 17, Mindnich had only 8 passing yards in the half.

He did continue to do damage with his feet, adding 25 rushing yards to his 27 from the first half, but it wasn’t enough to keep up with a Crusader offense that pulled away in the final minutes.

Dustin Inness also intercepted Mindnich in the second half and the pass rush finally got home — seniors Derek Henderson and Levi Bourland each had a sack.

Coach Inness said he hadn’t decided whether Metzger or Meier will take the majority of snaps under center going forward.

“I’ll let you know Monday after film,” he said.

Meier’s first passes were five attempts in last week’s win over Valley Christian, but Inness said the two quarterbacks take even snaps during practice. Inness said he loves having two quarterbacks with a mix of skill sets.

“Again, we go with the hot hand. Would it be great to have one that takes it all? But you know what? If it takes two to get it done, I’m OK with it,” he said.

In limited action, Meier has completed five of 10 passes for 38 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Through six games, Metzger has completed 46 of 85 passes for 609 yards, 10 touchdowns and three picks. Metzger’s passer rating is 101.5; Meier’s is 53.3.

Inness felt his team did not play to it’s potential Friday.

“This was not us. We were not ready,” he told his team after the game.

The Crusaders will start next week with some tough practices, Inness said, adding his players know they have to improve on this win.

“We’re mad. It’s what I like. I mean, we’re going to get better. That’s what I like. This is a veteran group and they’re not satisfied. But I do like winning, so that was good,” he said.

Photos by Ralph Freso for West Valley Preps.