Bishop McCort jumped out to an early lead and held on during a tightly contested game to defeat Westmont Hilltop 26-14 at Westmont's Price Field.
The Crushers began the scoring late in the opening quarter when quarterback Levi Cook found senior wideout Corey Hall for a 34-yard scoring strike. A missed extra point left McCort with a 6-0 lead.

On the ensuing possession, the Hilltoppers fumbled, and senior Marc Smith scooped up the loose ball and returned it 23 yards for another Crusher touchdown to increase the lead to 12-0 at the end of the first quarter.

Westmont was able to close the gap with an impressive 99-yard drive midway through the second quarter that ended with an Evan Dluhos 24-yard touchdown run. The Crushers ran out of time inside the Hilltopper 5-yardline as the first half ended with a 12-7 McCort lead.

The Crusher offense began the second half with a methodical 13-play 80 yard drive that ended with freshman Carnell Andrews' 1-yard touchdown run. The extra point set the score at 19-7.

The Hilltoppers made one last comeback attempt as Chase Davis scored from a yard out to make it 19-14. After forcing a Crusher punt with just over three minutes left in the game, Westmont took over inside their own 10-yardline.

 But McCort's defense came up big forcing a fumble on the Hilltoppers' first play, and Cook sealed the win with a 9-yard touchdown run on the next play to give the Crushers the 26-14 win.

With Smith, the team's leading rusher, limited by a knee injury, Cook led the Crusher attack on the day. He threw for 203 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for 69 yards and another score. Hall led the receivers with 8 catches for 167 yards and a touchdown.

For the game, McCort gained 360 yards of total offense, outgaining the Hilltoppers by almost 100 yards.

The win improves the Crushers' record to 2-2 on the season as they head to Richland to face off against the Rams Friday night.
 


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