By Gary Thomas

Crenshaw Christian Academy (CCA) notched their second win of the 2024 football season with a two touchdown victory over longtime foe Abbeville Academy earning a final score of 35-19 on a rain soaked field Friday night. 

The Cougars got the scoring going early when junior quarterback Grant Taylor connected with senior receiver Nathan Carroll in the left corner of the endzone for a touchdown. After the PAT, the scoreboard read 7-0 in favor of the Cats. 

Abbeville wasted little time in answering the Cougars’ touchdown as they went 63 yards in three plays to score their first points of the game. The Generals PAT was no good leaving them trailing by one point. On the Cougars second series of offensive plays, they marched 71 yards in 13 snaps as senior running back Jake Lawrence ran in for the score to put the Cougars up 13-6. 

During the second quarter the Cats forced the Generals to punt but a Cougar fumble on the 31-yard line gave them the ball right back. The Generals hit the Cougar endzone on the last play of the first half to make the score 13-12 at intermission. 

CCA scored the only points of the third quarter on an 11-yard option play as Taylor pitched the ball to Lawrence to put the Cougars up by 7. 

In the fourth quarter the Cougars special teams and defense got into the scoring action as Lawrence galloped 46 yards into the General endzone along with an interception on the following possession to make the score 35-12. The Generals closed out the game scoring as the horn sounded to make the final score 35-19. 

The Cougars scored in all three phases of the game with Jake Lawrence leading the way with four touchdowns. This was a key win for Brian Burleson and his Cougars as they stand 1-0 in region play and 2-1 overall. 

Crenshaw Christian is off this week but will be back in action on Sept. 20 as they face the Hooper Academy Colts at home.