RTCA Crusaders Fall To Thomas Jefferson

Robert Toombs Christian Academy's football team hosted the Jaguars of Thomas Jefferson on Friday night and fell in their first game of the new season. Thomas Jefferson came in as the defending GISA State A Champions, and the young Crusader team was outmatched.

Prior to the game RTCA took a moment to honor the first responders that were in attendance on the 19th Anniversary of the September 11 attacks. RTCA had the ball to start the game, and they began their first drive at their 37-yard line. A penalty against TJ pushed the ball out to midfield, but on the next play the Crusaders fumbled the ball, and it was scooped up and taken back for a touchdown by the Jaguars less than a minute into the game. They made the PAT and held a 7-0 lead.

RTCA fumbled again on their next possession with TJ recovering it at the RTCA 24-yard line. Two plays later they hit a 20 yard pass play for their second touchdown of the game. They made the extra point and led 14-0 with 10:29 still to go in the first quarter.

Hunter Ennis had a good return on the ensuing kickoff giving the Crusaders the ball at the 40-yard line. Ennis then picked up eight yards on first down, but they couldn't get anything else going and had to punt the ball away.

The Jaguars took just four plays to find the end zone again. They missed the extra point, but led 20-0 with 7:09 left in the first quarter.

RTCA again had good field position to start their drive at their 45-yard line. Rob Moore connected on a pass over the middle to #9 went across midfield to the Jaguars 44-yard line. Ennis had another good run to the 34-yard line as RTCA showed a bit of spark on offense. RTCA stalled there and went for it on fourth down at the TJ 30-yard line. Clayton Meadows picked up the first down to the 29. A pass from Moore to Meadows picked up six yards, but again they found themselves in a fourth down situation. This time they did not convert and turned the ball over on downs.

In the second quarter Thomas Jefferson added to their lead with another touchdown, making it 26-0.

RTCA turned the ball over on downs on their next possession, but the defense held and TJ gave it back on the RTCA 25-yard line.

RTCA couldn't get much going over the rest of the first half of the game with the Jaguars in complete control, leading 46-0 at the end of the first half of play.

RTCA moved the ball well in the third quarter with runs from Meadows and Ennis. With 7:31 to go in the third the Crusaders got on the board on a 25-yard run by Ennis. They missed the extra point, but that got them on the board at 46-6.

Neither team added to their score over the remainder of the game with the Jaguars taking the 46-6 win.

RTCA had 217 yards of total offense on the night, but just couldn't sustain a drive. Turnover hurt the Crusaders as they lost three fumbles in the game. Ennis led the way with 140 yards rushing on the night for RTCA. This week the Crusaders game against Edmund Burke has been cancelled due to COVID. The game has been rescheduled for Tuesday, September 29 at 6:45 p.m.

Clayton Meadows breaks free from a Jaguar tackle and picks up a first down for the Crusaders.Photo by Mike Branch