| Crampton gives the offense a boost |
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Crampton gives JCA 'O' boost
By Mike Fitzgerald of the Herald News
Joliet Catholic Academy halfback Ross Crampton thought it might be his night after he broke a 60-yard run on the first play of the game against Bishop McNamara Friday — a game Crampton and the Hilltoppers dominated 44-14 in Catholic League Metro Red play.
"After that first run, I thought it might be wide open," he said. "The holes were there and the (offensive) line was working hard."
Crampton finished with 288 yards rushing on 22 carries, helping JCA (4-2, 2-1) snap a two-game losing streak. The loss dropped the Fighting Irish to 3-3, 2-2.
A 6-foot-2, 212-pound senior, Crampton didn't score on the first play. Running back Brett Hettman scored from the 7 on the next play to make it 6-0. But Crampton would get his fill of the end zone before the game ended.
After JCA linebacker Chris Bayci recovered a Bishop Mac fumble at the 26, Hettman ran the ball to the 15. Crampton then carried it over the goal line. A Hettman two-point conversion made it 14-0.
The Fighting Irish cut the lead to 14-6 before a Ty Foley 23-yard field goal and a Kurt Kleeman 3-yard run upped JCA's lead to 24-6 at halftime.
Bishop Mac opened the third quarter with a one-play scoring drive, a 36-yard touchdown pass from Tom Regnier to Kyle Benoit, which cut the lead to 24-14. The Hilltoppers responded with three straight TDs to put the game away.
Crampton picked up quarterback Ryan Quigley's fumble at the Bishop Mac 34 and went the distance for the score. Crampton then added a 7-yard run at the close of the third quarter to make it 37-14.
Quigley connected with receiver Bobby Wilkinson on a 36-yard touchdown pass with 10:29 to play in the fourth quarter for the final points.
Defensive back Tom Gruben set up the score by intercepting Regnier inside Bishop Mac territory.
JCA coach Dan Sharp named Crampton the feature back in the Hilltoppers' double-wing attack because of a rib injury to wingback Robert Buchanan, who was sidelined Friday.
"Coach Sharp asked me if I could fill in and help out the team," Crampton said. "I worked hard for four days learning the Wing T, but it was a circus out there. I kept asking the quarterback what to do out there."
If there was any confusion on offense, Sharp didn't notice it.
"We gave him a crash course at left half back," he said. "We gave him seven plays and he ran them well. He's only going to get better as he goes through the system."
The Hilltoppers also switched Jim Jadron from tight end to left guard, and the move paid dividends immediately.
"I followed his big body (6-4, 255 pounds) through all those holes. He made a great transition. He was awesome," Crampton said.
The same could be said for Crampton who came into the season as a defensive starter at safety. He played at linebacker as a junior before tearing his ACL and missing most of the season.
"I spent 10 months in rehab running and riding my mountain bike," he said. "I don't even think about the knee anymore. It's like it never happened."
After moving Crampton to defensive back, Sharp decided to see how he would fare in the offensive backfield. Crampton saw his first carries against St. Viator, and he has taken on more of the workload since then.
"He's a great athlete," Sharp said. "He is an outstanding defensive player, but with the injuries we have had (on offense), we felt we needed a spark."
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